Expression of triple-helical collagen-like products in e.coli

ABSTRACT

Recombinant bacterial triple-helical collagen-like proteins comprising two or more repetitive sequences of Gly-Xaa-Yaa yielding high-stability polymeric constructs without the need for post-translational modifications and which may incorporate one or more functional domains of biological or structural importance. The polymers are capable of high-yield production for a variety of applications

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The instant application claims 35 U.S.C. §119(e) priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/150,375 filed Feb. 6, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

This invention was produced in part using funds obtained through grant EB007198 from the National Institutes of Health. The federal government may have certain rights in this invention.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular, recombinant collagen-like protein that is stable at mammalian bodily temperatures, either in its native state or after chemical cross-linking, and aggregating the protein for use in a wide range of applications.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Collagen is a key player in human development, maintenance of health, and a range of common and uncommon diseases. It is considered to be the characteristic structural molecule of the extracellular matrix in multicellular animals. Fibril-forming collagens and basement membrane collagens are ubiquitous in vertebrates and invertebrates, whereas families of more specialized collagens have developed in different organisms.

The collagen structure is defined by the distinctive supercoiled triple-helix conformation, having a (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) amino acid sequence. In this configuration, Gly provides a glycine residue with Xaa and Yaa independently comprising any known imino or amino acid residue for each repeat unit. Unique properties of the collagen triple-helix motif include its molecular hydrodynamic properties, extensive hydration, ability to bind diverse ligands, and capacity to self-associate to form fibrils and other higher order structures. These distinctive features have been exploited by nature to fill a wide range of structural and functional niches. For example, in humans, characteristic collagen fibrils with an axial D=67 nm period provide the structural backbone of tendons, skin, bone, cartilage, and other connective tissues. A network-like structure of type IV collagen is also important for basement membranes, such as those in the kidney glomerulus and lining of blood vessels.

A high content of hydroxyproline (Hyp) is a unique stabilizing feature found within most animal collagens. Indeed, it is widely believed that Hyp residues stabilize the collagen helical structure so it will not denature when exposed to mammalian body temperatures. Hyp residues are typically formed from the post-translational modification of proline residues at the Yaa positions by the enzyme prolyl hydroxylase. Once modified, Hyp confers a thermal stability that has been shown to be much greater than that conferred by Pro residues, or any other imino or amino acid, alone. Indeed, previously evaluated collagens without any Hyp have been found to be unstable when exposed to mammalian bodily temperatures.

There have been numerous attempts to design biomaterial products utilizing isolated animal-derived collagen. Such products, while functional, give rise to increasing concerns including the risk of contamination by infectious agents, as well as product standardization. Moreover, animal-derived collagen is limited in that extracted collagens cannot be designed to enhance or modify specific biological properties. Accordingly, attention has shifted away from isolation of animal collagen and toward production of recombinant collagens produced within micro-organism models.

Production of recombinant collagen in an industrial quantity has been very difficult because bacterial hosts lack the biological mechanisms for the post-translational modification of proline residues to hydroxyprolines. Notwithstanding, potentially useful triple-helix-containing collagen-like proteins have been identified in a number of bacteria in recent years. In several pathogenic bacteria, collagen-like proteins have been shown to be expressed and to form stable triple-helical proteins which play a role in pathogenicity. For example, Scl1 and Scl2 proteins from bacterium group A Streptococcus pyogenes (GAS) are expressed on the bacterial cell surface, and are thought to mediate GAS internalization by human cell. Even without post-translational modification of proline, Scl1 and Scl2 have been shown to form heat stable triple-helical structures when expressed as recombinant proteins, particularly when expressed with an amino-terminal globular domain (V_(Sp)). Other prokaryotic collagen-like have also been characterized and include Bacillus cereus and Bacillus anthracis proteins associated with the exosporium with a probable role in sporehost interactions; pneumococcal collagen-like protein A (PclA) contributing to adhesion and invasion of host cells; and a family of seven collagen-like proteins, called SclC-SclI from Streptococcus equi subspecies, which are expressed upon infection of horses leading to the pathological condition known as strangles.

These bacterial collagen-like proteins offer an opportunity to create stable triple-helix protein products in a high yield bacterial expression system. The bacterial origin of the collagen-like protein ensures compatibility in the bacterial expression system in terms of codon usage and other factors. Beyond the previously identified sequences, a collagen product is desirable that can easily be produced by recombinant methods on a large scale, while providing greater heat stability, the ability refold in vivo after denaturation, and improving the biological use of the final product. Such collagens, could potentially be aggregated and would be used to make various products, to include biomaterials. As provided herein, the present invention addresses the foregoing needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a modular, recombinant collagen-like protein structure which is stable at mammalian bodily temperatures (i.e. between 35-40° C.), in its native form or after stabilization by chemical cross-linking, comprising the formula I:

[(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p)

where m is between about 1 to 200 and (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents a bacterially produced triple helical domain with Xaa and Yaa being independently any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit. In further non-limiting embodiments, neither Xaa nor Yaa is a hydroxyproline. The insert is comprised of about 1 to 50 of any imino or amino acids, with n being 0 or 1, and p being any number from about 2 to about 10 wherein the value of n is unique for each repeat and at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein.

The overall content of Xaa and Yaa provides a proline rich structure where the total percentage of proline of all residues in the Xaa and Yaa positions is greater than 19%, but optimally, though not exclusively, between 19.5-40%. Alternatively, or in conjunction with the proline concentration, the triple helical motif may also contain a concentration of charged residues (e.g. Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg, His) of greater than 14% and optimally, though not exclusively, between 14-35%. Such domains should also aggregate, either naturally or synthetically, at a neutral pH or otherwise using one or a variation of such protocols discussed herein or otherwise known in the art.

The triple helical domains may be isolated from one or multiple pathogenic or non-pathogenic bacterial organisms. By way of example, the triple helical domains can include domains derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Methylobacterium sp. 4-46, Solibacter usitatus Ellin6076 or Rhodopseudomonos palustris tie-1, which exhibit the desired heat stability in either its native state or after stabilization by chemical cross-linking. Such sequences may include those identified herein as SEQ ID NOS: 7-11 or similar triple helical collagen-like sequences identified in U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,839, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. Alternatively, each triple helical domain may include repeats, fragments, homologues or combinations of the foregoing peptide sequences.

The insert sequences may be adapted to improve the bendability or elasticity of the biomaterial or otherwise serve as a natural binding domain or biological cleavage sequence. Natural breaks or interruption sequences, for example, may include those of non-fibrillar human collagens, which are typically provided as 1 to 50 amino acids spaced between two glycine residues. While the instant invention is not so limited, examples of such sequences include those provided below by SEQ ID NOS: 12-14, 16, 17, 50, and 65 as well as repeats, fragments, homologues or combinations thereof.

The insert regions may also, or alternatively, include at least one integrin binding site or other cell binding sites (e.g. DDR2 sites), or combinations thereof. Examples of such integrin domains include, but are not limited to, one or more of the sequences identified in SEQ ID NO: 15 or 18, as well as repeats, fragments, homologues or combination thereof. An example of such a DDR2 domain includes, but is not limited to, SEQ ID NO.: 78.

In even further embodiments, the insert regions may also, or alternatively, include at least one matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site. Examples of such domains include, but are not limited to, one or more of the sequences identified in SEQ ID NOS: 19-28, 62, and 67-75, as well as repeats, fragments, homologues or combination thereof.

To facilitate the proper formation of the triple helical structure, the recombinant protein of the instant invention may also be expressed with non-collagenous folding domain bound at either or both its amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end. An example of a non-collagenous domain derived from bacterial origin that provides helical folding when bound to the N-terminus of the protein includes SEQ ID NO: 47. An example of a non-collagenous domain derived from bacterial origin that provides helical folding when bound to the C-terminus of the protein includes SEQ ID NO: 51. The instant invention, however, is not so limited and may also include similar or otherwise homologous globular proteins, coiled-coil forming sequences, C-propeptide domains or foldons found in the microorganisms discussed herein, artificially produced, or otherwise known in the art to assist with helical folding.

In another embodiment the instant invention provides a biological aggregate for use in a biomedical product where the aggregates are made from recombinant bacterial collagen-like protein structure that is stable at mammalian bodily temperatures, either in its native state or after stabilization by chemical cross-linking, and may be represented by the formula

[(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p)

where m is between about 1 to 200 and (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents a triple helical domain with Xaa and Yaa independently being any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit. The insert is comprised of about 1 to 50 of any imino or amino acids, with n being 0 or 1, and p being any number from about 2 to about 10, wherein the value of n is unique for each repeat and at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein. Also, optionally, a non-collagenous domain bound to the protein at either or both an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end, which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domain.

The biological aggregate may be utilized in biomedical products including, but not limited to, soluble recombinant collagens, such as for use in dermal implants, drug carriers, plastic coatings for medical devices, implant coatings (orthopedic and vascular), shape-formation materials, viscosurgery, vascular sealants, cosmetics, and regulators of enzymes activity (e.g., metalloproteinases); sponge-like materials, such as for use in three-dimensional cell cultures, tissue and organ engineering, hemostatic agents, and wound therapy (artificial skin and wound dressings); fibers, such as for use in surgical sutures and hemostatic agents; gel-like materials, such as for use in tissue implants, corneal shields, contact lens, and matrices for cell culture; and membrane-like materials, such as for use in anti-adhesion membranes, drug delivery systems, artificial skin, and the like. Additionally, the aggregate may be used outside of the biomedical arena with industrial applications including, but not limited to, the following: leather industry applications, stabilizers, thickeners in glue manufacture, emulsifiers, foaming agents suitable for paper or textile manufacture, photographic films, manufacture of rubber substitutes, food industry applications, and the like.

Methods of producing a recombinant collagen-like protein include isolating 2 or more nucleic acid sequences each encoding separate triple helical domains formed from repeat sub-units of the formula (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m), as defined above. Two or more isolated sequences are inserted into a single nucleic acid vector and expressed using standard methods that are generally known in the art. In one non-limiting example, two or more triple helical domains are inserted within the vector and optionally one or more non-collagen insert sequences encoding 1 to about 50 amino acids are spaced between the isolated sequences. Additionally, a non-collagenous domain nucleic acid sequence which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domain upon expression may be provided at either or both an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end of a triple helical domain. One end of the sequence is then labeled with a sequence tag and cloned into a micro-organism. While not limited thereto, the expression vector may be a cold shock vector and the recombinant protein may be expressed in the microorganism (e.g. E. coli) at temperatures below 37° C., and in certain embodiments at temperatures of about 15-23° C. The resulting expression product is then isolated, purified, and processed to result in aggregate formation, which may be used as one or more of the biomaterials provided herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, however, that the methods of producing the instant invention are not limited to the foregoing and that a range of other microbial expression systems could also be used including both bacterial and yeast expression systems otherwise known in the art or taught herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 provides a pie chart representation of the non-Gly residue composition of the bacterial collagen-like domains identified.

FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic diagram of recombinant proteins with bacterial collagen-like domains, constructed for expression in E. coli.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D illustrates expression of recombinant proteins in E. coli and resistance to trypsin digestion.

FIGS. 4A, 4B, 4C and 4D provides thermal stability of the recombinant bacterial collagen-like domains.

FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D provides thermal transitions of the recombinant proteins determined by the monitoring CD signal at 220 nm.

FIG. 6A provides a schematic of the design of the bacterial collagen Scl2.28 chimeric construct, showing the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) constructed with a His6 tag at the N-terminal end and a thrombin/trypsin cleavage sequence (LVPRGSP) between the V_(Sp) domain and collagen-like domain (CL_(Sp)).

FIG. 6B provides an SDS-PAGE of cell extracted after expression wherein V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) were expressed in E. coli BL21 strain.

FIG. 6C provides time course of the digestion of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) by trypsin at room temperature for different length of time in hours, with products applied to SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 6D provides SDS-PAGE of purified proteins V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) with column 1 providing a Molecular weight marker, column 2 providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), column 3 providing CL_(Sp), column 4 providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and column 5 providing CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp).

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C and 7D provide the thermal transition of the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) constructs determined by monitoring CD signal at 220 nm.

FIGS. 8A and 8B provides the DSC of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp).

FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D and 9E provides electronic microscopy of the precipitates in PBS with negative staining for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp) domain, V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL-CL_(Sp) domains at 4° C. and positive staining for CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) domains at 25° C.

FIGS. 10A, 10B, 10C and 10D provides the electron micrographs of samples prepared to form Segment Long Spacing (SLS) crystallites of collagen (dialysis against ATP, pH 3), with FIG. 10a providing Bovine skin collagen type I, FIG. 10b providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), FIG. 10c providing CL_(Sp) domain and FIG. 10d providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)

FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C and 11D provides a schematic of strategy for expression of bacterial collagen Scl2 globular V domain together with two triple-helix modules interrupted by a natural GFG break with (FIG. 11A) the vector including thrombin cleavage site and restriction enzyme sites, (FIG. 11B) the insertion of one collagen module into the vector; (FIG. 11C) the insertion of the second module into the vector; and (FIG. 11D) the final construct where the GF sequence can be replaced by other breaks using SmaI and ApaI sites.

FIG. 12 provides a construct design for the introduction of the α2β1 integrin binding site, GFPGER, between triple helix modules.

FIGS. 13A, 13B, 13C and 13D provides the melting and refolding when the V_(Sp) domain is located N-terminal v.s. C-terminal to the triple-helix domain.

FIGS. 14A and 14B illustrates the SDS-PAGE results of the cross-linking studies of the bacterial collagen-like proteins and their collagenous domains, to define the trimerization state of the proteins initially and after in vitro refolding.

FIGS. 15A, 15B, 15C and 15D illustrates that V_(Sp) domain facilitates the folding and refolding of the heterologous CL_(cp) domain.

FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrates cytotoxicity evaluation using a Neutral Red assay, showing cell viability after 24 h incubations with HT1080 and W1-38 cells.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to modular collagen-like sequences that are heat stable at mammalian bodily temperatures and are useful as a biomaterial. The collagen-like protein of the instant invention is comprised of two or more triple helical domains each optionally separated by a non-collagen-like insert region. The insert regions may be adapted to mimic natural breaks in the triple helical structure that are found within many human collagens or may provide a desired biological functionality (e.g. cell/tissue binding or protease cleave site) to the biomaterial. To ensure proper folding of triple helical region both post-translationality and post-denaturation, the recombinant collagen-like protein of the present invention is optionally expressed with a globular folding domain at either or both its N-terminus or C-terminus. The resulting chimeric protein is then able to naturally form higher-order fibril-like or aggregate structures, which may be processed for use in a wide multitude of applications.

The recombinant collagen-like structure of the instant may be represented by the following formula I:

[(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p)

where p is any number from about 1 to about 10, and is in certain embodiments at least 2. (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents the collagen triple helical domain where Gly is a glycine, and Xaa and Yaa are independently comprised of any imino or amino acid, which are unique at each repeat along the length of the triple helical motif. M is comprised of any number from about 1 to about 200 and is, in certain embodiments, between 35 and 200. As illustrated in the Examples below, the triple helical motifs of the instant invention are heat stable at mammalian bodily temperatures (e.g. 35-40° C.), either in its native state or after stabilization by chemical cross-linking, and do not require secondary posttranslational modification of any amino or imino acids for stability. To this end, in certain non-limiting embodiments, Hyp residues are not provided in the instant structures.

In one embodiment, heat stable triple helical domains may be identified from pathogenic or non-pathogenic bacterial organisms based upon proline and charged amino acid concentrations of the targeted moieties. Specifically, the triple helical structure is preferably proline rich having a total percentage of proline of all residues in the Xaa and Yaa positions of greater than 19% and optimally, though not exclusively, between 19.5-40%. Alternatively, however, the triple helical motif may be comprised of charged residues (e.g. Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg, His) in a concentration of greater than 14% and optimally, though not exclusively, between 14-35%. Examples of such heat stable triple helical domains include the sequences, fragments, homologues or combinations obtained from the organisms Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Methylobacterium sp. 4-46, Solibacter usitatus Ellin6076 or Rhodopseudomonos palustris tie-1, which have the following peptide sequences:

Organism Sequence Streptococcus pyogenes GSPGLPGPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQ GERGEQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAG AQGPAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGK DGERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGK DGLPGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 7) Clostridium perfringens GPRGPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQ GEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQGAT GPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 8) Methylobacterium sp. 4-46 GLPGPKGDPGPQGPAGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEP GPKGEPGPKGEPGPRGEAGPQGALGPKGEAGSRGEPGPRGEPGPKGEAGL AGAPGPKGEAGPRGPQGERGPPGAPGAA (SEQ ID NO: 9) Solibacter usitatus Ellin6076 GPAGPAGPQGPAGPAGAQGPAGPAGPQGPAGPQGSAGAQGPKGDTGAAG PAGEAGPKGETGAAGPKGDTGAAGPAGPKGDTGAAGPAGPKGDTGAAGA TGPKGEKGETGAAGPKGDKGETGAAGPKGDKGETGAAGPKGEKGETGAV GPKGDKGETGAAGPKGDRGETGAVGPKGDKGETGAVGPKGDKGETGAIG PKGDKGDKGDKGDAGVAGPQGIQGVKGDTGLQGPKGDAGPQGAPGTPG GG (SEQ ID NO: 10) Rhodopseudomonos palustris GRPGPQGPRGRPGEPGRPGPQGHPGRPGPEGPRGKQGPVGKPGPQGKAGP tie-1 QGKPGIAGKPGPDGKPGPIGPQGKAGPQGPRGEQGLRGEQGPRGEQGPQGP RGEQGPRGEPGPAGAL (SEQ ID NO: 11)

These sequences, however, are not limiting to the invention and alternative sequences may be identified from any organism using the criteria provided herein. Organisms from which such sequences could be derived include, but are not to, Streptococcus pyogenes, Clostridium perfringens, Methylobacterium sp. 4-46, Solibacter usitatus Ellin6076, Rhodopseudomonos palustris tie-1, Corynebacterium diphtheria, Actinobacteria (e.g., Mycobacterium gilvum, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Mycobacterium vanbaalenii, Nocardioides species, Rubrobacter xylanophilus, Salinispora arenicola, Salinispora tropica, and Streptomyces species), Alphaproteobacteria (e.g., Anaplasma species, Methylobacterium radiotolerans, Nitrobacter winogradskyi, Paracoccus denitrificans, Rhizobium leguminosarum, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Rhodopseudomonas palustris, Sphingomonas wittichii, and Wolbachia species), Bacteroidetes (e.g., Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron), Betaproteobacteria (e.g., Azoarcus species, Burkholderia ambifaria, Burkholderia cenocepacia, Burkholderia phymatum, Burkholderia vietnamiensis, Dechloromonas aromatica, Polaromonas naphthalenivorans, Ralstonia eutropha, Ralstonia metallidurans, Ralstonia pickettii, and Rhodoferax ferrireducens), Cyanobacteria (e.g., Cyanothece species, Synechocystis species, Trichodesmium erythraeum), Deinococcus (e.g., Deinococcus radiodurans), Deltaproteobacteria (e.g., Anaeromyxobacter dehalogenans), Epsilonproteobacteria (e.g., Campylobacter curvus), Firmicutes (e.g., Bacillus clausii, Bacillus halodurans, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium phytofermentans, Enterococcus faecalis, Geobacillus kaustophilus, Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactococcus lactis, Lysinibacillus sphaericus, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Streptococcus pneumoniae), and Gammaproteobacteria (e.g., Citrobacter koseri, Enterobacter species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Photorhabdus luminescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas entomophila, Pseudomonas putida, Psychrobacter cryohalolentis, Saccharophagus degradans, Salmonella enterica, Salmonella typhimurium, Serratia proteamaculans, Shewanella amazonensis, Shewanella baltica, Shewanella frigidimarina, Shewanella hahfaxensis, Shewanella loihica, Shewanella oneidensis, Shewanella pealeana, Shewanella putrefaciens, Shewanella sediminis, Shewanella woodyi, Shigella boydii, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella flexneri, Shigella sonnei, and Vibrio harveyi).

The insert sequences separating each triple helical domain are comprised of a non-collagen peptide sequence of about 1 to 50 imino acid or amino acids. While n is provided as 0 or 1 in formula I, at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein. Preferably, although not limited thereto, these sequences improve the bendability or elasticity of the protein and also may provide some biological functionality that is useful for the resulting biomaterial. Bendability may be achieved by providing an insert sequence that mimics natural breaks or interruption sequences often found in non-fibrillar human collagens, e.g. human type IV basement membrane collagens. Such sequences are typically provided as 1 to 50 amino acids spaced between two glycine residues, e.g. Gly-peptide sequence-Gly. While the instant invention is not so limited, examples of such sequences include the following, which are found the alpha domains of form IV, and VII human collagens:

Break Sequence G1G GFG from α5 (IV) G4G GAAVMG from α5 (IV) (SEQ ID NO: 12) G6G GDSAVILG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO: 13) G8G GDMVVSRVKG from α4 (IV) (SEQ ID NO: 14) G9G GPOGEFYFDLRLKGPOG from α1 (IV) (SEQ ID NO: 50) G12G GRLVDTGPGAREKG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO: 16) G15G GQISEQKRPIDVEFQKG from α5 (IV) (SEQ ID NO.: 65) G41G GSVPNVDRLLETAGIKASALREIVETWDESSGSFLPVPERRRG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO: 17)

The desired biological functionality may be derived from sequences that facilitate binding the biomaterial to the targeted cell type or otherwise providing a natural cleavage site for degradation in the body. Binding sequences, for example, may include integrin binding domains such as those identified for α2β1 integrin (e.g. -GFPGER- (SEQ ID NO: 18)) or an α3β1 (e.g. GEFYFDLRLK (SEQ ID NO: 15)). Other sequences include the known type II collagen binding site for DDR2, namely GPRGQPGVMGFP (SEQ ID NO.: 78). In even further embodiments, both the integrin and DDR2 sites are incorporated into the insert region.

Cleavage sequences may include, but are not limited to, one or more sequences within the family of Matrix Metalloproteinase (MMP)s domains, e.g. MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-8, MMP-13 and MMP-18, which cleave type I, II and III collagens, and MMP-2 and MMP-9, which cleave denatured collagens. Peptide sequences known for achieving such effects include, but are not limited to the following domains:

(SEQ ID NO: 19) -GPQGIA- (SEQ ID NO: 20) -GPQGIL- (SEQ ID NO: 21) -GPQGLA- (SEQ ID NO: 22) -GPQGLL- (SEQ ID NO: 23) -GPLGIA- (SEQ ID NO: 24) -GPLGIL- (SEQ ID NO: 25) -GPLGLA- (SEQ ID NO: 26) -GPLGLL- (SEQ ID NO: 27) -GPRGLQ- (SEQ ID NO: 28) -GPTGLA- The present invention, however, is not limited to the foregoing and may include similar sequences otherwise known to achieve such functionality. Such sequences may be provided in tripeptide repeat units of 4, 5, 6, or 8, with optimal cleavage being possible, but not limited to, 5 or 6 tripeptide sequences. Additional examples of such repeat tripeptide sequences include, but are not limited to, the following:

(SEQ ID NO: 62) GPQGIAGQRGVVGLP (SEQ ID NO: 67) GPQGLLGAPGILGLP (SEQ ID NO.: 68) GEQGPQGLP (SEQ ID NO: 69) GPQGLAGQRGIV (SEQ ID NO: 70) GAQGPPGAPGPLGIAGITGARGLAGPPGMPGPRGS (SEQ ID NO: 71) GPLGIAGITGAR (SEQ ID NO: 72) GAQGPPGAPGPLGIAGITGARGLA- (SEQ ID NO: 73) GPSGAEGPPGPQGLAGQRGIVGLPGQRGERGFP- (SEQ ID NO: 74) GPQGLAGQRGIV- (SEQ ID NO: 75) GPSGAEGPPGPQGLAGQRGIVGLP-

Also important to the stabilizing structure of the collagen-like products of the instant invention is the proper formation of the triple helical structure. While some triple helical domains are able to be formed using the native mechanisms of the expression vehicle, proper folding of the recombinant bacterial collagen-like structure represented by formula I may also be assisted using globular or variable (V) domains. Such globular domains may be expressed directly or indirectly to the N-terminus and/or the C-terminus of the triple helical domain and can facilitate both post-translational folding and refolding following heat denaturation. One non-limiting example of an N-terminus domain is the entirety of or a portion of a variable (V) domain the Scl2 sequence found in Streptococcus pyogenes, which may be provided as the following peptide sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 47) EENEKVREQEKLIQQLSEKLVEINDLQTLNGDKESIQSLVDYLTRRGKL EEEWMEYLNSGIQRKLFV A non-limiting example of a C-terminus variable domain or V domain may be isolated from the organism Rhodopseudomonos palustris tie-1, which may be provided as the following peptide sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 51) PSIEQVMPWLHLIFDAYEDYKAQRAREARELEERLAAEALEQAAREAAER EVAAAIEAANAEAEIMLDDETHAEGGKKKKKRKHKD

The present invention, however, is not limited to these embodiments and may also include similar or otherwise homologous globular proteins, coiled-coil forming sequences, or foldons found in the microorganisms discussed herein or otherwise known in the art to assist with helical folding. As used herein, a “coiled-coil forming sequence” is a peptide domain having a gently twisted, rope-like bundles, such as that disclosed by K. Reid et al. (1994) FEBS Lett. May 16; 344(2-3):191-5 and as reviewed in Muller et al., (2000) Meth. Enzymol. 328: 261-283, the contents of which are each incorporated herein by reference. Coiled-coil sequences are comprised of a seven-residue repeat with positions 1-4 commonly being occupied by one or more hydrophobic amino acids and the remaining three amino acids being comprised of, generally, polar amino acids. While not limited thereto, the coiled-coil structures of the present invention may be trimeric structures. Examples of such coiled-coil domains include, but are not limited to, coiled-coil neck domains of collectin family proteins, a triple alpha-helical coiled-coil domain from human mannose-binding lectin, or coiled coil domains from other collagens types, including bacterial collagens. The following are two examples of the coiled coil containing domains from bacterial collagens:

Bacillus cereus ATCC 10987:

(SEQ ID NO: 48) MNNKNKGKVFYGNDCCEVRACSHINISKSELTEFVRLLQALGQAIQAVFQ NPSQNNIDNLIAALNNLQKFLNCLDLSPAQRQIGNSIIANLLTILRTTPF SCGALYVELQSLLNYLLYIAKLFKVDCCTTDKLVKLITEI QAILVQY Rhodopseudomonas palustris:

(SEQ ID NO: 49) PSIEQVMPWLHLIFDAYEDYKAQRAREARELEERLAAEALEQAAREAAER EVAAAIEAANAEAEIMLDDETHAEGGKKKKKRKHKD

As also used herein, the term “foldon” refers to an amino acid sequence that is also sufficient to drive the multimerization and/or the correct folding of a collagen domain, see S. Frank et al., 2001, J. Mol. Biol., 308: 1081-1089; S. Boudko et al., 2002, J. Mol. Biol., 317: 459-470; J. Stetefeld et al., 2003, Structure, 11: 339-346, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Examples of such foldon domains include, but are not limited to, a bacteriophage T4 fibritin foldon domain.

While it desirable that the variable or globular domain be provided in the final product to assist with refolding should the triple helical structure be denatured, it is not required. Rather, these domains may be provided during expression and enzymatically cleaved after formation of the triple helical structure. Enzymatic cleavage sequences may, thereby, be provided between the globular domain and the triple helical sequences and may include any sequence that is capable of being digested with an enzyme (e.g. protease). Such sequences include, but are not limited to, lysine or arginine residues suitable for for tryptic digestion. Alternatively, enzymatic cleavage sequences may include phenylalanine, tyrosine, or tryptophan residues for chymotrypsin digestion. In even further embodiments, the enzymatic cleavage sequence may contain greater specificity for digestion and include a processing site that can be cleaved by a specific protease, e.g. factor Xa protease, thrombin, or enterokinase, Tomato Etch Virus (TEV) protease, or the like. While not limited thereto, such specific processing sites include but are not limited to the following:

Thrombin/Trypsin: (SEQ ID NO: 1) Leu-Val-Pro-Arg-Gly-Ser-Pro Enterokinase: (SEQ ID NO: 2) Asp-Asp-Asp-Asp-Lys Factor Xa protease: (SEQ ID NO: 3) Ile-Glu-Gly-Arg or (SEQ ID NO: 4) Ile-Asp-Gly-Arg TEV protease: (SEQ ID NO: 5) Glu-Asn-Leu-Phe-Gln-Gly PreScission ™ protease: (SEQ ID NO: 6) Leu-Glu-Val-Leu-Phe-Gln-Gly-Pro. The present invention, however, is not limited to the foregoing and may include similar enzymatic cleavage site or combination of cleavage sites that are known in the art.

Chimeric proteins including a globular domain, triple helical domain(s), and insert region(s) may be provided in any combination to optimize biomaterial and achieve the effects provided herein. Non-limiting examples of such proteins include the following sequences, repeats, fragments, homologues and combinations thereof:

Chimeric Structure Sequence V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage site DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGL PGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 29) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with Thombin/ MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Trypsin cleavage site DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGAAGVMGPRG EQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQGP TGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAGP MGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERGP VGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 30) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-(GFPGER)-CL_(Sp )- MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE with Thrombin/Trypsin DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR cleavage site and integrin GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG binding site PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGFPGERGPRGE QGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQGPT GLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAGP MGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERGP VGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 31) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 4-aa short MMP GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG cleavage site from human type PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG III collagen PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGPLGIAGITGAR GPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERG EQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQG PAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDG ERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGK DGLPGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 32) V_(Sp)CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 8-aa long MMP GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG cleavage site from human type PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG III collagen PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGAQGPPGAPGP LGIAGITGARGLAGPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTG PAGPRGLQGERGEQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQG LPGKDGEAGAQGPAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRG ERGEAGPAGKDGERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDG QPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 33) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 4-aa short MMP GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG cleavage site from human type PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG II collagen PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGPQGLAGQRGI VGPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGER GEQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQ GPAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKD GERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNG KDGLPGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 34) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 8-aa long MMP GEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGLQGERGEQG cleavage site from human type PTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAGAQGPAG II collagen PMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKDGERG PVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLP GKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGPSGAEGPPGP QGLAGQRGIVGLPGPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPT GPAGPRGLQGERGEQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQ GLPGKDGEAGAQGPAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPR GERGEAGPAGKDGERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGL PGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKD GQPGKPGKY (SEQ ID NO: 35) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp )- with Thrombin/ MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Trypsin cleavage site DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 36) CL_(Cp-)V_(Rp) MHHHHHHGPRGPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGF TGPQGPIGLQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPV GPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGP IGPQGEQGPQGATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN GPRPSIEQVMPWLHLIFDAYEDYKAQRAREARELEERLAAEALEQAARE AAEREVAAAIEAANAEAEIMLDDETHAEGGKKKKKRKHKD (SEQ ID NO: 37) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and natural break GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGAAGVMGPRG PRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQGE QGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGER GFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQGA TGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 38) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and integrin site GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGFPGERGPRGP RGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQGEQ GPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERG FTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQGAT GPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 39) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 4-aa short MMP GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG cleavage site from human type EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE III collagen RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGPLGIAGITGAR GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 40) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 8-aa long MMP GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG cleavage site from human type EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE III collagen RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGAQGPPGAPGP LGIAGITGARGLAGPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGER GFTGPQGPIGLQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGP VGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQG PIGPQGEQGPQGATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGV N (SEQ ID NO: 41) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 4-aa short MMP GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG cleavage site from human type EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE II collagen RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGPQGLAGQRGI VGPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQ GEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQG ERGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQ GATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVN (SEQ ID NO: 42) V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-CL_(Cp )- with MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE Thrombin/Trypsin cleavage DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPR site and 8-aa long MMP GPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGLQG cleavage site from human type EQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGE II collagen RGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQGPIGPQGEQGPQG ATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGVNGPSGAEGPPGP QGLAGQRGIVGLPGPRGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGER GFTGPQGPIGLQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPVGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGP VGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGEQGPQGERGFTGPQGPIGPQGNQG PIGPQGEQGPQGATGPQGPQGPVGPQGNQGPIGPQGPVGPQGPQGQPGV N (SEQ ID NO: 43) V_(Sp)-CL_(SE) MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGFEKKNFPTLGDE DLDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR↓GSPGPA GPAGPQGPAGPAGAQGPAGPAGPQGPAGPQGSAGAQGPKGDTGAAGPA GEAGPKGETGAAGPKGDTGAAGPAGPKGDTGAAGPAGPKGDTGAAGA TGPKGEKGETGAAGPKGDKGETGAAGPKGDKGETGAAGPKGEKGETGA VGPKGDKGETGAAGPKGDRGETGAVGPKGDKGETGAVGPKGDKGETG AIGPKGDKGDKGDKGDAGVAGPQGIQGVKGDTGLQGPKGDAGPQGAP GTPGGG (SEQ ID NO: 44) CL_(Rp)-V_(Rp) MHHHHHHGRPGPQGPRGRPGEPGRPGPQGHPGRPGPEGPRGKQGPVGK PGPQGKAGPQGKPGIAGKPGPDGKPGPIGPQGKAGPQGPRGEQGLRGEQ GPRGEQGPQGPRGEQGPRGEPGPAGALPSIEQVMPWLHLIFDAYEDYKA QRAREARELEERLAAEALEQAAREAAEREVAAAIEAANAEAEIMLDDET HAEGGKKKKKRKHKD (SEQ ID NO: 45) CL_(Mb) MHHHHHHGLPGPKGDPGPQGPAGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPK GEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPKGEPGPRGEAGPQGALGPKGEAGSRGEPGPRGE PGPKGEAGLAGAPGPKGEAGPRGPQGERGPPGAPGAA (SEQ ID NO: 46) V_(Sp) - Refers to the variable or globular domain isolated from the organism Streptococcus pyogenes. CL_(Sp) - Refers to the triple helical region isolated from the organism Streptococcus pyogenes. CL_(Cp) - Refers to the triple helical region isolated from the organism Clostridium perfringens. V_(Rp) - Refers to the variable or globular domain isolated from the organism Rhodopseudomonos palustris tie-1. CL_(SE) - Refers to the triple helical region isolated from the organism Solibacter usitatus Ellin6076. CL_(Mb) - Refers to the triple helical region isolated from the organism Methylobacterium sp. 4-46.

Methods of expressing the recombinant collagen-like proteins of the instant invention include standard expression methods that are generally known in the art, such as those discussed in Molecular Cloning (Sambrook and Russell, (2001)), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In one non-limiting example, the recombinant collagen-like structures of the present invention may be expressed by cloning into cold-shock vectors. As used herein, a “cold-shock vector” relates to a expression cassette providing specific induction of the expression of a target gene at or about 15° C. or room temperature, resulting in a high yield of protein. One such vector system was developed by taking advantage of the E. coli cspA cold-shock adaptation mechanism. When an E. coli culture is shifted from 37° C. to 15° C. (i.e. cold shock), cell growth is significantly reduced while CspA, the major cold-shock protein, is dramatically induced. Utilizing this, key expression elements from the cspA gene may be incorporated into an expression cassette to facilitate expression of a target protein upon incubation at 15° C. or 25° C. Such key elements include a promoter region (e.g. cspA promotor) with, optionally, a downstream regulator region (e.g. a lac operator) to strictly control expression. A series of expression vectors, termed pCold vectors (commercially produced by TaKaRa Bio) are available, which utilize such key elements to drive the high expression of a target gene upon induction by shifting a culture temperature from 37° C. to 15° C.

In accordance with the foregoing, a nucleic acid sequence encoding the recombinant collagen-like structure of the present invention may be isolated and inserted into a cold-shock expression cassette and transfected into a bacterial organism. As used herein, a nucleic acid sequence is a DNA sequence but may also include any other type of sequence known in the art for use in expression cassettes and bacterial cloning. The introduction of the nucleic acid into the cold-shock expression vector follows well-established techniques of molecular biology, as provided below or otherwise described in manuals such as Molecular Cloning (Sambrook and Russell, (2001)), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In one embodiment a nucleic acid sequence encoding the entire sequence of the recombinant bacterial collagen-like structure of the present invention may be isolated, using standard molecular techniques, and inserted into a pCold, or other similar, expression cassette.

The expression constructs of the present invention may be cloned into a bacterial host using methods known in the art and as described in manuals such as Molecular Cloning (Sambrook and Russel, (2001)). More specifically, the high yield expression system of the present invention may be comprised of cloning the expression construct of the present invention into a cold-shock protein competent E. coli. These cells may be transformed using any transfection, transformation, or other similar technique known in the art for inserting an expression cassette into a micro-organism. Post-transformation, cells may be initially grown on suitable culture media (e.g. M9-casamino acid) at 37° C. until they reached A600 of about 0.8-1.2. Cultures may then be shifted to 15° C. to induce protein expression of the targeted protein, and incubated overnight, to produce the targeted protein. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the incubation times and temperatures may be varied and still achieve similar results. Accordingly, the foregoing method of culturing cells expressing the proteins of the present invention are not necessarily limiting to the present invention. While the recombinant proteins of the present invention could be produced using conventional cloning/expression methods, as provided below, the use of cold-shock vectors is particularly advantageous to the present invention because of high yield production of the desired protein.

Post-incubation, cells may be harvested, disrupted and the targeted protein isolated. Purification of the polypeptide may be conducted using a combination of known protein purification techniques such as ammonium sulfate fractionation, PEG precipitation, ultrafiltration and various chromatographies. For example, the purification techniques can be facilitated by binding of a ligand (i.e. a tag sequence, biological active sequence, etc.) to a carrier through one of the binding mechanisms discussed herein. The triple-helix domain may then be enzymatically cleaved from the expressed bacterial collagen product by treating with the enzyme corresponding with the enzymatic digestion domain discussed herein. The resulting proteins may be purified and characterized using standard methods known in the art. As used herein, ligand or “tag” sequences include polypeptide sequences that are used to localize the target protein (e.g. the collagen polymer), to purify it from a cell extract, to immobilize it for use in binding assays, or to otherwise study its biological properties and/or function. Examples include, but are not limited to, polyhistidine tracts (e.g. His₆), histidine-tryptophan sequences FLAG peptide fragment, hemagglutinin (HA) tag sequence, a myc tag sequence, a glutathione-S-transferase tag sequence, a maltose binding protein (MBP) tag sequence, a green fluorescent protein tag sequence, an myc-pyruvate kinase tag sequence, an influenza virus hemagglutinin tag sequence, and various Ig tag sequences, or other similar tag sequences otherwise known in the art. Again, while the present invention exemplifies cold-expression vector expressed in E. coli., the present invention is not limited thereto. Rather the expression vector may be any other similar type of expression vector or other standard expression vector that is generally known in the art to express a targeted protein. To this end, the micro-organism is not limited to an E. coli and may be comprised of any bacterial host or yeast (e.g. Pichia) expression system known in the art. The instant invention may, thereby, be adapted for expression in such organisms using standard protocols known in the art.

The recombinant bacterial collagen-like structure of the invention is particularly advantageous because it provides an easily producable triple-helical constructs that is stable at temperatures close to human body temperature, either in its native state or after stabilization by chemical cross-linking. This design will lead to the production of collagen-based products of varying lengths. Variation in length should lead to the properties suitable for a wide range of biomaterials, biomedical applications, and cosmetic applications.

Comparison of the properties of the collagenous CL domain with the CL-CL domain which is twice as long indicated that the length of the bacterial triple-helix domain did not affect the molecular thermal stability but did affect the morphology of the fibrils formed at neutral pH in the cold, producing larger diameters and longer fibrils. Increasing the length of the construct to CL-CL-CL and CL-CL-CL-CL further increase the propensity for fibril or aggregate formation and improve the fibril morphology.

Bacterial collagen-like proteins retain the versatility of the collagen triple-helix motif, while allowing high yield expression systems and easy manipulation with no requirement for post-translational modifications. The formation of fibrils by the bacterial collagen-like proteins, as reported here, indicates that these fibrils are useful for biomaterials and tissue engineering applications.

The larger diameters and longer fibrils formed by CL-CL domains compared with CL suggests that increasing the length of the triple-helix further, e.g. CL-CL-CL, should lead to fibrils more closely resembling those found in animal tissues. The importance of collagen length in fibril formation is supported by studies on collagen model peptides. The properties of fibrils formed by bacterial collagen may also be modulated by changes in amino acid sequence, the introduction of cross-linking, and the presence of other matrix molecules, e.g. proteoglycans.

Thus the recombinant collagen of the present invention may be used, for example, as a biomaterial for medical use replacing human collagen, as a cosmetic ingredient (e.g., as a moisturizer since it has a high calorimetric enthalpy suggesting an excellent water-holding capacity), and as new biodegradable biomaterials, which can be used in the food industry as well as pharmacological industry. The constructs of the present invention also have the potential for high-yield production of bacterial gelatin. The constructs of this invention are ideal for manipulations and applications as scaffolds or aggregates in tissue engineering.

In one embodiment, for example, such aggregates or scaffolds could be formed by chemical crosslinking in the presence of glutaraldehyde vapour. More specifically, purified CL protein is prepared in 20 mM acetic acid and freeze dried. Dry collagen is then held at 20° C. over vapour from 20% w/v glutaraldehyde (GA) for 18 h in a closed vessel. Samples are then held covered in air and stored at room temperature until analysis. Alternatively, high concentrations of the recombinant structures at low temperature naturally promotes formation of aggregate or fibrillar structures in S. pyogenes and several of the other bacterial collagens defined here, e.g. methylbacterium, have an even greater tendency towards aggregation.

Non-limiting examples of biomedical products that can be produced from aggregation of the instant recombinant proteins and their possible applications include, but are not limited to, the following: soluble recombinant collagens, such as for use in dermal implants, drug carriers, plastic coatings for medical devices, implant coatings (orthopaedic and vascular), shape-formation materials, viscosurgery, vascular sealants, cosmetics, and regulators of enzymes activity (e.g., metalloproteinases); sponge-like materials, such as for use in three-dimensional cell cultures, tissue and organ engineering, hemostatic agents, and wound therapy (artificial skin and wound dressings); fibers, such as for use in surgical sutures and hemostatic agents; gel-like materials, such as for use in tissue implants, corneal shields, contact lens, and matrices for cell culture; and membrane-like materials, such as for use in anti-adhesion membranes, drug delivery systems, artificial skin, and the like.

Additionally, the recombinant collagen of the present invention may be used outside of the biomedical arena with industrial applications including, but not limited to, the following: leather industry applications, stabilizers, thickeners in glue manufacture, emulsifiers, foaming agents suitable for paper or textile manufacture, photographic films, manufacture of rubber substitutes, food industry applications, and the like.

The triple-helix protein motif confers the structural advantages found in collagen and allows incorporation of conformation-dependent interaction sites. The bacterial origin of the collagen-like sequence ensures compatibility in a bacterial expression system in terms of codon usage and other factors. This allows use of a highly efficient bacterial expression system, and flexible modifications of sequence. Important interaction sites, cleavage sites, and self-association can be successfully incorporated in this bacterial triple-helix protein in the absence of hydroxyproline. The development of a bacterial, hydroxyproline-free, triple-helix protein system provides great benefits for the development of collagen-based biomaterials and tissue engineering and offers a new system for studying basic principles of collagen function.

Although this invention exemplifies triple helical constructs that are stable near human body temperature, constructs that form stable triple-helical entities at lower temperatures are not excluded from the present invention, particularly constructs that may be cross-linked for further stabilization or suitable for production of gelatin-like systems or other applications.

EXAMPLES Materials and Methods

Analysis of Bacterial Genomes

The NCBI microbial genome database was searched for annotated known and predicted collagen-like proteins with a relatively long (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) domain containing at least 35 repeats and lacking repetitive stretches of a single amino acid motif. For further selection, thermal stability of the collagen-like domains of selected proteins were predicted using the collagen stability calculator (jupiter.umdnj.edu/collagen_calculator/) and sequences showing regions of very low stability were excluded. ProtParam tool was used for evaluation of the AA content and physicochemical parameters.

DNA Amplification and Cloning.

Full length genes for the collagen-like proteins were amplified using genomic DNA and corresponding primers (Table 1). Genomic DNA of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), SM101 was provided by Hirofumi Nariya (Kagawa University, Japan), DNA of Solibacter usitatus (S. usitatus) was a gift from Cheryl R. Kuske (Los Alamos National Laboratory, NM), DNA of Methylobacteria sp 4-46 (M. sp 4-46) was a gift from Christopher Marx (Harvard University, MA), DNA of Rhodosudomonas palustris (R. palustris) and Corynebacterium diphtheria (C. diphtheria) were purchased from ATCC. Amplification conditions were optimized for each pair of primers. Genes were cloned in pCR 2.1-TOPO vector and verified by DNA sequencing.

Each collagen domain CL, is denoted by the bacterial source, e.g. CL_(Rp) is the (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) region from R. palustris. The non-collagenous domains are denoted as (N)V for the N-terminal non-collagenous domain. For example, (N)V_(Sp) is N-terminal non-collagenous V domain from S. pyogenes. For obtaining of the full length C. perfringens construct (N)V_(Cp)-CL_(Cp)-(C)V_(Cp), and partial C. perfringens constructs (N)V_(Cp)-CL_(Cp)(AA₁₋₂₄₂), CL_(Cp)(AA₅₄₋₂₄₂) protein and CL_(Cp)-(C)V_(Cp) (AA₅₄₋₄₀₃), corresponding fragments were amplified by PCR and re-cloned into the E. coli expression pColdII vector via NdeI/BamHI sites (the numbers in parenthesis correspond to the amino acids of the full size protein and are presented for the fragments the first time they are used). To obtain (N)V_(Sp)(AA₁₋₇₄)-CL_(Cp) and CL_(Cp)-(C)V_(Rp)(AA₁₂₇₋₂₁₂) recombinant proteins, fragments after amplification and assembly were cloned into the pColdIII via ApaI/BamHI and Nde/BamHI sites, correspondingly. To construct full length S. usitatus constructs (N)V_(Su)-CL_(Su)-(C)V_(Su), and partial constructs (N)V_(Su)(AA₁₋₇₄)-CL_(Su)(AA₁₋₂₈₈), CL_(Su)(AA₄₃₋₂₈₈), CL_(Su)-(C)V_(Su)(AA₃₀₋₄₃₄), amplified fragments were cloned into the pColdII vector via NdeI/Hind III sites. pCold III vector already containing N-terminal domain of Scl2 S. pyogenes and SmaI/ApaI sites was used for obtaining (N)V_(Sp)(AA₁₋₇₄)-CL_(Su)(AA₄₃₋₂₈₈) protein. Full length (N)V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms)-(C)V_(Ms), (N)V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms)(AA₂₃₋₂₇₁), CL_(Ms)(AA₂₃₋₂₇₁) M. sp 4-46 recombinant proteins were constructed by amplification of the fragments and inserting them into pCold II vector using NdeI/BamHI sites. Full length and CL_(Rp)(AA₁₀₋₁₂₆)-(C)V_(Rp)(AA₁₂₇₋₂₁₂) R. palustris recombinant proteins were constructed by assembly of the corresponding fragments in pCold II vector using NdeI/BamHI sites. Fragments for the full length and N-terminal domain of Scl2 (N)V_(Sp)(AA₁₋₇₄)-CL_(Cd) (AA₁₋₂₂₂) fusion protein from C. diphtheria were cloned into pCold II and pCold III vectors already containing N-terminal domain via NdeI/BamHI and ApaI/BamHI sites, correspondingly. All recombinant proteins contained N-terminal His-Tag sequence for purification by affinity chromatography and thrombin cleavage site sequences were inserted between the N-terminal globular domain and collagen-like domain sequences by PCR.

For expression of the collagen-like domain from several bacterial species using heterologous registration domain from another bacterial species, we inserted collagen-like domains from Clostridium perfringens (ABG86771.1) and Corynebacterium diphtheria (CAE50366) into the pColdIII-VCL vector for the expression of the Scl 2.28 of Streptococus pyogenes by replacing collagen-like sequence of the Scl 2.28.

Protein Expression and Purification.

Recombinant proteins were expressed in E. coli BL21 strain. For small scale purification and fractionation studies, bacterial cultures were grown in 10 ml of M9-casamino acid medium at 37° C. until A600 reached 0.9-1.0, then expression of the proteins was induced by 1 mM isopropyl-D-thiogalactopyranoside and cultures were incubated on a shaker overnight at 20° C. To test protein solubility, cultures were centrifuged and pellets dissolved in 20 mM Na-phosphate, pH 7.4, 500 mM NaCl, sonicated and centrifuged.

Supernatant was considered as a soluble fraction, whereas pellet undergoes additional cycle of resuspension, sonication and centrifugation. The final pellet was called the insoluble fraction. Proteins were analyzed by 12% SDS-PAGE. Proteins were purified from one liter cultures, grown and induced as described for small scale production. Overnight cultures were centrifuged and resuspended in 20 mM Na-Phosphate, pH 7.4, 500 mM NaCl buffer with 10 mM β-mercaptoethanol, sonicated by 4-5×one minute bursts in Ultrasonic processor XL sonicator (Misonix). Extracts were centrifuged for 10 min at 12,000 g, and after additional extraction of the pellets, supernatants were combined and centrifuged one hour at 45,000 rpm (rotor 50Ti, Beckman L7-55). Twenty five mM of imidazole was added to the extracts and it was loaded on 12.5 ml Ni-NTA agarose (QIAGEN) column. Column was washed sequentially with 50 ml of the binding buffer (Na-phosphate saline with 25 mM imidazole and 10 mM 3-mercaptoethanol), 120 ml of the buffer with 58 mM of the imidazole and 50 ml of the buffer with 96 mM imidazole. Proteins were eluted with 30 ml of buffer containing 400 mM of imidazole. Proteins were dialyzed against Na-phosphate buffer, pH 8.6 with 50 mM glycine. Protein purity was checked by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The following final yields from one liter of liquid culture were obtained for purified soluble proteins: (N)V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp)-22.5 mg/1; CL_(Cp)-(C)V_(Rp) 6.3 mg/1; CL_(Cp) 9.8 mg/1; (N)V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms)-22.3 mg/1; CL_(Ms)-4.3/mg/1; (N)V_(Sp)-CL_(Su)-15.3 mg/1; CL_(Su)-4.3 mg/1; CL_(Rp)-(C)V_(Rp) 4.3 mg/1; CL_(Rp) 1 mg/l. We optimized further the growth conditions for two proteins, (N)V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp) and (N)V_(Sp)-CL_(Su) and corresponding CL domains. The use of rich 2×LB medium and induction of protein expression at A600 reaching 5-6 lead to increased yields for CL_(Cp) and CL_(Su) up to 30-40 mg/l.

Trypsin Digestion.

To test the recombinant proteins for sensitivity to trypsin digestion and to isolate the collagenous fragments, proteins were digested at room temperature with trypsin at a ratio 1:1000 (protein:enzyme) for different periods of time, and efficiency of the digestion was checked by electrophoresis. The reaction was terminated by addition of PMSF, followed by centrifugation and the supernatants were loaded onto a Superdex™ 200 gel filtration column (GE Healthcare). The purity of the fractions was checked by mass spectrometry.

Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy.

AVIV Model 62DS spectropolarimeter (Aviv Associates Inc., Lakewood, N.J.) was used for the recording of the CD spectra. Proteins were equilibrated in 1 mm cuvettes for at least 24 hrs at 4° C. Each scan was repeated three times and CD spectra were recorded from 195 to 260 nm with an average time of 5 s at 5 nm interval. Protein melting was monitored at 220 nm by increasing temperature in 0.33° C. increments from 0 to 70° C. Proteins were maintained for 2 min at each temperature point and the average rate of temperature increase was 0.1° C./min. T_(m) is defined as the temperature at which the fraction folded is 50% in the curve fitted to the thermal transition. Proteins were refolded by decreasing the temperature from 70 to 0° C. and process was recorded at 220 nm. The percentage of the refolding was determined as the ratio of the CD signal regained at 0° C. after refolding to the initial signal before melting.

Example 1 Selection of Collagen-Like Protein Candidates

To choose candidate proteins with collagen-like domains, a search was initiated in bacterial genomic databases of pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria for relatively long (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) domains (n>35), since the stability of the collagen triple helix is known to depend upon length of the protein up to a certain size after which T_(m) is length independent. Candidates were further analyzed in terms of predicted thermal stability of their CL domains using the collagen stability calculator (jupiter.umdnj.edu/collagen_calculator/), eliminating proteins predicted to have regions of low relative stability. The final protein candidates were grouped according to amino acid composition, and representative candidates with high percentage of charged residues, prolines, or predominantly polar residues were chosen for experimental investigations. It was also desirable to include proteins from non-pathogenic bacteria since none had been studied previously. Using these criteria, a set of putative proteins with collagen domains were selected from five bacteria (Table 1): C. perfringens, a pathogenic gram-positive bacteria which is the causative agent of gas gangrene; C. diphtheria, a pathogenic rod-shaped grampositive actinobacteria responsible for diphtheria; non-pathogenic gram-negative M. sp 4-46 found mostly in soils or in plants which can utilize methanol emitted by the plants and stimulate plant development; non-pathogenic Gram-negative Acidobacteria (S. usitatus) which are abundant in soils; and non-pathogenic gram-negative Rhodopseudomonas (R. palustris), a phototrophic organism inhabiting marine environments and soil.

TABLE 1 Predicted bacterial collagen-like proteins MW Bacteria Protein (Kd)/PI Primers, forward/reverse Closridium perfringens, ABG86771.1 42.1/4.7 5′ AGAAGCTCCAATGGCAAAGGAAGATGA 3′ SM 101 (SEQ ID NO: 52) 5′ ACTCATTCAACTGGAGGCGTATGCATTTC 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 53) Solibacter usitatus YP_822627.1 40.8/5.4 5′ TCCCGATTGAGGCGAAGCAAA CTT 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 54) 5′ TACGCGATGACGCATTGAGGGAAA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 55) Methylobacterium sp 4- ACA18713.1 33.5/8.6 5′ AATCTCGACCGCAAGGACCTCTAC 3′ (SEQ 46 ID NO: 56) 5′ ACATCCGCAAGGCGAAGCAAT 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 57) Rhodopseudomonas YP_0019930 22.1/9.3 5′ AATTGAAGCCGTCACGCAAGCTCT 3′ (SEQ palustris ID NO: 58) 5′ TGACGGAACATCAAGACGCTGTTCAA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 59) Corynebacterium CAE50366.1  25.8/8.85 5′ AACTTTCCCGCCGTGTTGTCCAAT 3′ (SEQ ID diphtheriae NO: 60) 5′ TGCAAGAATTGTTGGGCCATGCGA 3′ (SEQ ID NO: 61)

FIG. 1 provides an overview of the collagen domains in these 5 bacteria. Specifically, these bacteria contain distinctive amino acid compositions, with widely varying percentages of Proline, hydrophobic residues (Val, Ile, Leu, Met, Phe, Trp, Cys), charged residues (Asp, Glu, Lys, Arg, His), and polar residues (Ser, Thr, Cys, Asn, Gln). All of the proteins have a high proportion of Pro, varying from 19.5-40% of all residues in the Xaa and Yaa positions. It is interesting to note that the proteins with the lower Pro contents have very high contents of acidic residues. The CL domain from C. perfringens (CL_(Cp)) has the lowest charge content (17% of all residues in the Xaa and Yaa positions) and a high content of Gln residues (29%) exclusively in the Yaa position, with a total of 37% polar residues, and 31% Pro. This contrasts with 35% charged residues, 37% Pro and 15% polar residues in the CL domain of R. palustris. Two proteins selected for the expression have acidic pI values (4.7 for C. perfringens and 5.4 for S. usitatus) whereas the rest of them are highly basic (pI 8.6, 9.3 and 8.85 for M. sp 4-46, R. palustris and C. diphtheria, respectively).

Repeating sequence patterns are notable in most of these proteins. For example, CL_(Cp) has 6 full and 3 partial repeats of the Gln rich sequence GP[RQ]GP[VIR]G[PL]QGEQGPQGERGF (SEQ ID NOS.: 79-90) while eight full repeating charge sequences of the form GPKGEP (SEQ ID NO.: 63) are present in CL_(Ms). Peptide models of these repeats suggest they promote self-association into fibrillar structures. The CL region from S. usitatus (CL_(Su)) has 2 large Ala-rich repeats at the N-terminus GPAGPAGPQGPAGP (SEQ ID NO.: 64) as well as numerous imperfect repeats. Other repeating sequences are seen in the CL domains of C. diphtheria (CL_(Cd)) and R. palustris (CL_(Rp)). This contrasts with the absence of repeating sequences in animal collagens, although there are periodicities of charged and hydrophobic residues. There are different numbers of these repeats in different strains, and it is not clear at this stage if any of the bacterial collagen repeats are important for the function and stability of the proteins or if they are related to the evolution of these collagen-like sequences.

These proteins from 5 different bacteria were selected on the basis of the characteristics of their (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) domains. But all animal collagens and the few bacterial collagen-like proteins characterized so far have non-triple-helix regions surrounding the triple-helix domain which are necessary for trimerization, nucleation and registration of the triple-helix. The full length protein in the open reading frame containing the (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) sequence was included for expression in all cases (Table 1).

Example 2 Expression of Bacterial Collagen-Like Proteins in E. coli

Genes for these candidate proteins (Table 1) were cloned from genomic DNA and expressed in E. coli BL21 strain using cold-shock expression vectors, as provided above. Initial expression plasmids were constructed using full length proteins including N or C-terminal non-collagenous domains. Such sequences are identified in FIG. 2 where the numbers indicate the length of each domain in AA; black filled boxes indicate the CL domains of corresponding proteins; the empty boxes indicate N- and C-terminal domains; vertical empty boxes indicate collagen-like sequence interruptions; and boxes with line dashed patterns indicate V domain from Scl2 of S. pyogenesis (V_(Sp)) and C-terminal V domain from R. palustris (V_(Rp)). Predicted signal peptide coding regions were not included in the constructs when they could be identified.

No inducible expression was observed for the C. diphtheria recombinants and this bacterial protein was not further characterized (FIG. 2). The problematic expression could be due to a 9 residue interruption in the (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) sequence of the CL_(Cd) region, since such breaks in the repeating triplet pattern have been shown to lead to the disturbance and destabilization of the triple helix and possibly to the protein instability. Good expression was observed for the recombinant collagen-like proteins of the other four bacteria, and their purification and characterization were carried out.

Cell fractionation indicated that the full-length proteins from three bacteria (M. sp 4-46, S. usitatus and R. palustris) were present in the soluble fraction (FIGS. 2 and 3). All recombinant protein constructs from M. sp 4-46 were soluble including the collagen domain alone. The recombinant protein from R. palustris was almost fully soluble as a full length construct or as CL_(Rp) with the C-terminus (C)V_(Rp), whereas protein from S. usitatus become more soluble after the deletion of the C-terminal domain. Partial solubility was seen for the other recombinant proteins constructs of S. usitatus. The protein from the C. perfringens was found in inclusion bodies (FIG. 2). Neither the CL_(Cp) domain alone nor CL_(Cp) with one or both of its terminal domains, were soluble.

Example 3 Formation of Chimeric Proteins to Promote Folding

Since insoluble proteins in inclusion bodies have been linked to misfolding, the insoluble CL_(Cp) collagen domain was fused with two potential folding domains from the collagen proteins of other bacteria. In one construct, an additional C-terminal domain of R. palustris, (C)V_(Rp) was attached to the CL_(Cp) domain, in another, it was fused with a preceding N-terminal globular (N)V_(Sp) domain of the Scl2 collagen-like protein from S. pyogenes (FIG. 2). Constructs containing CL_(Cp) domain were now expressed in the soluble fraction, suggesting these additional chimeric domains were effective in facilitation of the correct assembly of the collagen-like domain from C. perfringens. There appears to be specificity in the location of the folding domains since the V domain of R. palustris promoted folding when on the C-terminal but not the N-terminal side of CL_(Cp). Attachment of the (N)V_(Sp) domain to the CL_(Su) domain of S. usitatus also led to efficient production in the soluble fraction, suggesting proper protein assembly. No C. diphtheria protein induction was observed even after fusion of its CL domain with (N)V_(Sp). Analysis of the protein samples by SDS PAGE is shown in FIG. 3.

Example 4 Trypsin Resistance of the Collagenous Domains

The collagen triple-helix confers resistance to digestion by trypsin as well as by other proteinases, and such enzyme digestion can be used to verify the presence of the triple-helix as well as to purify collagen domains. To probe the conformation of the expressed bacterial collagen constructs, recombinant proteins were purified from soluble fractions by affinity chromatography on Ni-NTA agarose and then digested with trypsin for different period of times at room temperature. The trypsin-digested products had mobilities expected for the isolated collagen triple-helix domains of the 4 bacterial proteins (FIG. 3), except for the mobility of the CL domain from R. palustris which was slightly slower than predicted. Mass spectroscopy confirmed the purity and molecular weight of the (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(n) collagen domains of the proteins: 18,870.19 Da for CL_(Cp); 21,667.53 Da for CL_(Su); and 14,967.28 Da for CL_(Ms). The size of the CL_(Rp) was 13,335.87 Da, larger than the 11,275.48 Da theoretical value of the collagen domain alone, due to cleavage at an Arg site 24 amino acids into the N-terminal domain. Insertion of an Arg at the end of the CL domain is planned to obtain only the triple-helical fragment.

These results strongly suggest that soluble collagen-like proteins from four bacteria expressed in E. coli contain CL domains which are in a trypsin resistant triple-helical conformation. The conformation of the CL domains in non-soluble protein fractions was also approached using trypsin digestion. A significant portion of the inclusion bodies of the (N)V_(Cp)-CL_(Cp) was digested by trypsin and no protease-resistant fragment corresponding by SDS-PAGE mobility to the CL domain was observed. These data support the conclusion that non-soluble recombinant proteins with collagen-like domains are likely to represent aggregates of misfolded protein.

Example 5 Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy: Conformation, Thermal Stability, and Refolding

CD spectra of purified CL_(Su), CL_(Rp) and CL_(Cp) collagen domains obtained by trypsin digestion, as well as CL_(Ms) expressed as only the collagenous domain gave typical collagen-like features at 4° C., with a maximum at 220 nm and a minimum near 198 nm (FIG. 4). It is difficult to obtain precise concentrations and mean residue ellipticity value for collagen domains which have no aromatic residues. The Rpn value (ratio of positive to negative peak) was used to estimate their triple-helix content. Values suggesting a fully triple-helical molecule (Rpn 0.11) were seen for the CL_(Cp) and CL_(Su). The lower Rpn value recorded for CL_(Ms) and the negative value of the 220 nm peak for CL_(Rp) suggest some perturbation to the triple helix or partial degradation (Table 2).

TABLE 2 Properties of the bacterial collagen-like recombinant proteins expressed in E. coli Recombinant Trypsin Bacteria Protein^(a) Resistance^(b) T_(m), ° C. CD, Rpn^(c) C. perfringens V_(Sp)-CL_(Cp) + 39.6 0.13 CL_(Cp)-V_(Rp) + 40.2 CL_(Cp) ^(d) + 38.8 CL_(Cp), pH 2.2 Nt^(e) 37.2 S. usitatus V_(Sp)-CL_(Su) + 39.4 0.11 CL_(Su) ^(d) + 38.5 CL_(Su), pH 2.2^(d) Nt 27.0 M. sp 4-46 V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms) + 40.3 0.06 CL_(Ms) + 35.0 CL_(Ms), pH 2.2 Nt 28.3 R. palustris CL_(Rp)-V_(Rp) + 37.5 N/a^(g) CL_(Rp) ^(d) + 37.0 CL_(Rp), pH 2.2^(d) Nt 32.0 S. pyogenes ^(f) (Scl2) V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) + 35.6 0.11 CL_(Sp) ^(d) + 35.9 CL_(Sp), pH 2.2^(d) Nt 25.7 ^(a)V_(Sp) N-terminal globular domain from S. pyogenes Scl2 protein; V, N-terminal domain from M. sp 4-46 protein; V_(Rp), C-terminal domain from R. palustris protein; CL, collagen-like domain ^(b)CL domain of the recombinant V-CL or CL-V proteins were resistant to the trypsin digestion ^(c)Rpn is the ratio of the positive at 220 nm to the negative peak at 198 nm ^(d)CL domains were purified by trypsin digestion ^(e)not tested ^(f)data for S. pyogenes Scl2 protein and its CL domain presented for comparison 12 ^(g)not available due to the negative value of the peak at 220 nm

The CD spectra of proteins from single bacterial species, M. sp 4-46 (N)V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms) and R. palustris CL_(Rp)-(C)V_(Rp) as well as several chimeric proteins containing a CL domain from one bacteria together with a folding domain from another bacteria, CL_(Cp)(C)V_(Rp) and (N)V_(Sp)CL_(Su), have been studied. CD spectroscopy of all chimeric proteins and (N)V_(Ms)-CL_(Ms) showed collagen-like features with a maximum at 220 nm and a minimum near 198 nm but with much lower magnitude than seen for isolated CL domains (FIGS. 4 and 5). The non-collagenous domains contribute to the spectrum and are likely cancel out some of the collagen-like signal. The R. palustris construct CL_(Rp)-(C)V_(Rp) shows only a shoulder at 220 nm (FIG. 5), which is consistent with it having the shortest CL domain and the prediction of a helical coiled coil structure in the (C)V_(Rp) domain (85 residues) (FIG. 4).

Thermal unfolding of recombinant proteins was followed by monitoring the CD signal at 220 nm with increasing temperature (pH 8.6). Very sharp thermal transitions were observed for CL domains of S. usitatus and C. perfringens. Broader transitions were detected for the CL domains of the M. sp 4-46 and R. palustris (FIG. 4), which together with low Rpn values may suggest partial unfolding or heterogeneity of the material. T_(m) values were in 35 to 39° C. range (Table 2). Slightly higher T_(m) values were observed when collagenous domains were covalently attached to the folding domains compared with CL domains alone, indicating a relatively small stabilizing effect of the non-collagenous domains (FIG. 5). The only exception was M. sp 4-46, for which CL domain alone has almost 5° C. lower T_(m) than the same protein with its own N-terminal folding domain (35.0° C. versus 40.3° C.).

CD spectra and melting curves were also obtained at pH 2.2, to compare with corresponding measurements at pH 8.6. CD spectra were similar at different pH values, but a significant decrease in thermal stability was observed at low pH for the CL_(Su) (T_(m)=38.5 to 27° C.), CL_(Ms) (T_(m)=40.3 to 28.3° C.) and CL_(Rp) (T_(m)=37 to 32° C.) (FIG. 4, Table 2). It is also interesting to note that melting curves of the CL_(Ms) and CL_(Rp) were sharper upon melting at pH 2.2 than at pH 8.6. The three CL proteins which show a strong dependence of the stability from pH have a very high proportion of charged residues, constituting 34%, 34% and 35% of all Xaa, Yaa residues in (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) for CL_(Ms), CL_(Su) and CL_(Rp), respectively. In contrast to the high pH dependent decrease in T_(m) for the CL domains from the other three bacteria, only a slight decrease in the T_(m) value (1.6° C.) was observed for CL from C. perfringens, which has the lowest charge content. Among three CL domains with high percentage of the charged residues, CL_(Ms) and CL_(Su) have almost equal quantity of negatively and positively charged residues, whereas CL_(Rp) has 2.4 times more positively charged than negatively charged residues.

The ability of purified constructs to refold in vitro was investigated by monitoring the CD signal at 220 nm upon cooling of the samples from 70° C. to 0° C. at the same rate as heating (0.1° C./min) (FIG. 5). CL domains isolated from all bacteria by trypsin digestion or by expression of the CL domain alone (CL_(Ms)) were not able to refold (data not shown). Most of the constructs with non-triple-helical domains adjacent to the CL domain showed recovery of some of the CD signal (FIG. 5A-D). The efficiency of refolding varied among the different constructs, with complete refolding in the case of the CL_(Rp)-V_(Rp) and minimal refolding in the case CL_(Cp)-V_(Rp) (See FIG. 5 wherein the → arrow indicates the direction of temperature change for the unfolding curve with increasing temperature and ← for the refolding curve with decreasing temperature). It is interesting that (C)V_(Rp) domain was extremely effective in refolding its own CL domain but not in the refolding of the heterogeneous CL from C. perfringens.

Example 6 Chimeric Repeating Modules of the Collagen-Like Domain

A. Incorporating a Natural Break Between Repeat Collagen Residues

The expressed Scl2 protein as well as its isolated triple-helix domain form a stable triple-helix with T_(m)=36-37° C., close to the stability found in human collagens. A duplicate of the (Gly-X-Y)₇₉ was introduced into the cold shock vector, and a natural break found within non-fibrillar collagen was inserted between the tandem triple-helix modules to study the effect of the break on structure, stability, folding, flexibility and shape.

FIG. 6A provides a schematic of the design of the bacterial collagen Scl2.28 construct, showing the original V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and duplicate V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) constructed within a pColdIII-163 encoding p163 polypeptide based on Scl 2.28 with a His6 tag at the N-terminal end. A LVPRGSP (SEQ ID NO.: 1) sequence was inserted between the N-terminal globular domain (V) and collagen-like domain (CL) to act as a potential cleavage site for thrombin or trypsin. pColdIII-V-CL-CL was constructed based on an N-terminal V domain followed by a dimer of the (Gly-X-Y)79 unit with two additional triplets between two CL domains. First, the globular domain of Scl2 (residues from Ala34 to Asp107) containing N-terminus His₆-tag and thrombin cleavage site, -LVPR↓GS-, is cloned into pColdV vector using NdeI and BamHI sites including three restriction sites, SmaI, ApaI, and BamHI. Using SmaI and ApaI sites from this cloned vector, PCR fragment having a blunt end and ApaI site is inserted. Note that Pro from SmaI will complete one triplet, GSP, after thrombin cleavage. This resultant construct has a His₆-tagged V domain and one bacterial (Gly-X-Y)₇₉ triple-helix domain followed by G1G break (GF) and one triplet, GPL (GP, from ApaI site). Importantly, the codon for Gly was changed from ggg for SmaI site to ggt in the PCR fragment. Therefore, this original SmaI site will be destroyed while the new SmaI site in the PCR product can be used. Next, using ApaI and BamHI sites, we will insert another PCR fragment having ApaI and BamHI sites. This resultant construct has a His₆-tagged V domain and two bacterial (Gly-X-Y)₇₉ triple-helix domains connected by a G1G break (GF). Various lengths and sequence of type IV breaks can be exchanged by using SmaI and ApaI sites in this construct.

The foregoing strategy for expression of bacterial collagen Scl2 globular V domain together with two triple-helix modules interrupted by a natural GFG break is schematically illustrated in FIG. 11 wherein section a illustrates a vector including thrombin cleavage site and restriction enzyme sites; section b illustrates the insertion of one collagen module into the vector; section c illustrates insertion of the second module into the vector; and section d illustrates the final construct where the GF sequence can be replaced by other breaks using SmaI and ApaI sites.

Referring to Table 3, below, different lengths and sequences of breaks also can be inserted instead of the GFG break. The oligonucleotides for each type IV break can be synthesized and inserted as a DNA fragment after annealing and digesting with SmaI and ApaI restriction enzymes. Other breaks can be taken from type VII collagen, because it is a homotrimer. A control triple-helix without any breaks was also expressed, inserting the integrin binding site GFOGER instead of a break sequence. This served as a control for all biophysical studies and can also be checked for integrin binding to confirm the biological effectiveness of the control triple-helix with two triple-helix modules. The expressed His-Tag bacterial constructs can be purified using a nickel column.

TABLE 3 Homotrimeric breaks to be introduced between two Scl2 bacterial collagen modules. Break Sequence No Break (GXY)₇₉-(GXY)₇₉ G1G GFG from α5 (IV) G4G GAAVMG from α5 (IV) (SEQ ID NO.: 12) G6G GDSAVILG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO.: 13) G8G GDMVVSRVKG from α4 (IV) (SEQ ID NO.: 14) G9G GPOGEFYFDLRLKGPOG from α1 (IV) (SEQ ID NO.: 50) G12G GRLVDTGPGAREKG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO.: 16) G15G GQISEQKRPIDVEFQKG from α5 (IV) (SEQ ID NO.: 65) G41G GSVPNVDRLLETAGIKASALREIVETWDESSGSFLPVPERR RG from α1 (VII) (SEQ ID NO.: 17)

B. Incorporation of Integrin Binding Domain

The 9-residue interruption GEFYFDLRLK (SEQ ID NO.: 15) may also be incorporated within the bacterial construct between the repetitive triple-helix modules, followed by expression of the polypeptide. This 9-residues sequence found within the triple-helix domain of alpha 1 chain of type IV collagen has been reported to bind to the alpha3 beta1 integrin on melanoma and ovarian carcinoma cells. Incorporation of this sequence within a triple-helix confers a high propensity towards molecular association and aggregation to form fibril structures. Constructs with this sequence may be useful for promoting fibril formation and for specific cell binding.

Alternatively, the human type I collagen binding to site to α2β1 integrin, GFPGER (SEQ ID NO: 18), may be introduced between the repetitive Scl2 triple-helix modules, followed by expression of the polypeptide. The sequence coding for the four triplets in between the Scl2 triple-helix modules is modified to include GFPGER. FIG. 12 provides a construct design for the introduction of the α2β1 integrin binding site, GFPGER, between triple helix modules.

Expression of a polymer of the structure (Scl2)-GFPGER-(Scl2)-GFPGER-(Scl2)-GFPGER-(Scl2) provides proof of principle for introduction of other interaction sites. It is known that the integrin site does not require Hyp, and the sequences of the other sites do not contain Hyp. The cell binding properties of these polyScl constructs with multiple integrin binding sites can be characterized, in addition to their structural and tissue engineering features. The presence of multiple binding sites is important for individually weak binding sequences.

Expression of the polymer (Scl2)-GPRGQPGVMGFP-(Scl2) further confers binding to DDR2 receptors.

Example 7 Expression of Chimeric Repeating Modules of the Collagen-Like Domain in Cold-Shock System, Purification and Large-Scale Production

A high-yield expression system was used to obtain the collagen-like proteins and its individual triple-helical domains of Example 6. Specifically, pColdIII-V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) were expressed in the E. coli BL21 strain. Cells were grown in M9-casamino acid with ampicillin (50 μg ml⁻¹) medium at 37° C. until they reached A₆₀₀=0.8. The cultures were shifted at 15° C., room temperature and 37° C., respectively, and 1 mM isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside was added to induce protein expression. After overnight incubation, cells were harvested by centrifugation. The distilled water and the SDS-PAGE buffer were added to the cells and they were boiled for one minute. The expression level at each temperature was analyzed by SDS-PAGE. SDS-PAGE was used to monitor the expression at different temperatures and indicated an expression level at room temperature much higher than at 15° C. or 37° C. (FIG. 6B). All further expression was carried out at room temperature (25° C.), using the advantage of the cold shock system.

For large-scale production of recombinant proteins E. coli BL21 cells harboring corresponding plasmids were inoculated into 5 mL of M9-casamino acid medium with Ampicillin (50 μg ml⁻¹) respectively and grown at 37° C. for 12 hours. The cultures were transferred to 1000 mL of M9-casamino acid medium and incubated until they reached A₆₀₀=1.2. Cells were harvested by centrifugation and dissolved by the two times concentrated L broth with Ampicillin (50 μg mL⁻¹). The each culture was shifted to a room temperature and 1 mM isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside was added to induce protein expression. After overnight expression, cells were harvested by centrifugation and disrupted by a French press. Cellular debris was removed by centrifugation at 4° C. Each expressed protein was found in the supernatant as a soluble protein. The supernatant was loaded onto a Ni-sepharose resin column (25 mL bed volume) (GE Healthcare) equilibrated with the binding buffer (20 mM phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 500 mM NaCL and 25 mM imidazole) at room temperature. After being washed with the binding buffer, the proteins were eluted using the eluting buffer (the binding buffer with 58 mM, 96 mM, 115 mM, and 400 mM imidazole) by stepwise eluting. The VCLs and VCL-CL were eluted with 96 mM and 115 mM imidazole. The protein purity was checked by SDS-PAGE. The yields of purified protein were in the range of 400 mg/L of 2×L broth and the bands of His-VCLs were observed at expected for each protein position.

Example 8 Cleavage and Purification of Collagen (Gly-Xaa-Yaa) Domain with Trypsin

The collagen-like triple-helix domains of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) were isolated from the expressed bacterial collagen product by treating with trypsin since triple-helix domains are known to be resistant in their native state. 10 mg of purified VCLs were dialysed against 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 8.6) then digested with 1/1000 (w/w) trypsin at room temperature. The digested products were loaded onto a DEAE Sephadex anion exchange column at room temperature. The fractions containing collagen-like sequences were further purified using a Superdex™ 200 gel filtration column (GE Healthcare). Protein purity was checked by SDS-PAGE and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. To test whether the purified molecules were still a triple-helix or denatured into three single helices, trypsin digestion was carried out. After incubation for 1 hour at 25° C. and 37° C. (above T_(m)), respectively, proteins were digested with 1/100 (w/w) trypsin at 25° C. The result showed that all recombinant proteins were still triple-helical.

FIG. 6C provides time course of the digestion of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) by trypsin at room temperature for different length of time in hours, with products applied to SDS-PAGE.

FIG. 6D provides SDS-PAGE of purified proteins V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) with column 1 providing a Molecular weight marker, column 2 providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), column 3 providing CL_(Sp), column 4 providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and column 5 providing CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp). V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) showed an SDS-PAGE band around 56 kDa as expected, and mass spectroscopy gave a mass of 55800, which is comparable to the theoretical value, 55701. Mass spectrometry analysis of the purified CL_(Sp) protein was 22850, in good agreement with the predicted molecular mass of 22840. On SDS PAGE, the CL_(Sp) band was higher than expected, which is common for rod-like triple-helix proteins (FIG. 6d ). The dimer collagen domain, CL-CL, was also isolated using trypsin and purified as described above. Mass spectrometry of CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) showed 44938, which is in good agreement with the expected value of 44998. These result were furthered demonstrated by circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy, discussed below.

Example 9 Characterization of Conformation, Stability, and Other Biophysical Properties of Expressed Constructs of Example 6

A. Circular Dichroism (CD) Spectroscopy

To investigate conformational features, circular dichroism spectroscopy (CD) was carried out on the intact CL_(Sp) duplicate protein and its isolated collagenous domain. The CD spectrum of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) in PBS buffer at pH 7 shows typical collagen features, with a maximum at 220 nm and a minimum at 198 nm (Table 4). This pattern is typical for collagen but the absolute peak intensities at both 220 nm and 198 nm are less than pure collagen triple-helix because of the presence of a globular V-domain, which gives a negative value at 220 nm and a positive value at 198 nm.

When the purified CL_(Sp) domain is examined, the CD peaks are at similar locations but with much higher intensities. Accurate concentration values could not be determined for the CL domain which has no aromatic residues, but concentration estimates by weight lead to an estimated MRE220 ˜8000 deg·cm2·dmol-1 (Table 4), a value even higher than seen for animal collagens. The parameter Rpn, which is the ratio of the intensity of the positive peak near 220 nm over the intensity of the negative peak near 198 nm, has been shown to be a useful measure of the collagen triple-helix conformation. The Rpn for the isolated CL_(Sp) domain is 0.128, which is very close to the 0.13 Rpn value observed for animal collagens, indicating the collagenous CL_(Sp) domain forms a fully folded triple-helix.

The CD spectrum of only the globular domain showed two negative peaks at about 208 nm and 225 nm (MRE₂₀₈=−17400 deg·cm²-dmol⁻¹; MRE₂₂₅=−16800 deg·cm².dmol⁻¹), which are characteristic of alpha helix. And it also shows a positive value at 198 nm (MRE₁₉₈=17000 deg·cm²·dmol⁻¹). This pattern suggests that the globular domain is largely alpha-helical, consistent with the prediction of high coiled-coil possibility for residues 10-30 and 55-70 in this globular domain. Subtraction of the CD signals of globular domain from total V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) CD signals gives an estimate that CL_(Sp) domain has a higher MRE at 220 nm (MRE₂₂₀=7800 deg·cm²·dmol⁻¹) than mammalian collagen.

The V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) protein has a positive peak at 220 nm and a negative peak at 198 nm, with an estimated MRE 222 of ˜8000 deg·cm2·dmol-1 (Table 3), and the purified CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) dimer has an Rpn around 0.114, again indicating a fully triple-helical molecule. FIG. 7A-D provides the thermal stability of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and the isolated CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) domains were examined by monitoring the change in the CD peak at 220 nm with increasing temperature. Very sharp thermal transitions are observed for all samples, with values of T_(m)=36.8° C. for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), T_(m)=37.1° C. for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), T_(m)=35.2° C. for CL_(Sp) and T_(m)=36.5° C. for CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp). The increased length of the collagenous domain appears to cause only a slight increase in thermal stability. The presence of a single sharp transition for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) at the same T_(m) values as CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) indicates the V_(Sp) domain unfolds simultaneously with the collagenous domain under these conditions. The ability of the proteins to refold after heat denaturation was also examined (see reverse arrows in FIG. 7), by monitoring the CD signal at 220 nm as the sample is cooled at same rate as the heating rate. A substantial amount of their original CD signal is regained by V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) (60%) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) (40%) upon cooling from 70° C. to 0° C., and the initial drop in the 220 nm signal could represent the refolding of the V_(Sp) globular domain prior to triple-helix folding. In contrast, no signal is regained upon cooling of the CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) proteins. These results indicate that the globular V_(Sp) domain is important for refolding and is likely to act as a trimerization domain necessary for triple-helix formation.

TABLE 4 Physical properties of bacterial collagen CD MRE₁₉₈ MRE₂₂₀ DSC ΔH_(cal) Tm (deg · cm² · Tm (kJ/ Rh(nm) (° C.) dmol⁻¹) Rpn (° C.) mol) V_(Sp)- 10.2 ± 1.1  36.8 −38400 1500 0.04 37.9 2730 CL_(Sp) CL_(Sp) 8.0 ± 1.6 35.2 −62500 8000 0.13 37.0 2820 V_(Sp)- 49.6 ± 22.4 37.1 −54500 5400 0.10 37.5 4290 CL_(Sp)- CL_(Sp) CL_(Sp)- 17.0 ± 1.1  36.5 −53500 6100 0.11 37.9 5300 CL_(Sp)

B. Differential Scanning calorimetry (DSC)

DSC experiments were recorded on a NANO DSC II Model 6100 (calorimetry Sciences Corp). DSC was used to determine the thermal stability and calorimetric enthalpy of bacterial collagen. The samples were dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0). Sample solutions were loaded at 0° C. into the cells and heated at a rate of 1° C./min. Enthalpy was calculated from first scan because the scans were not reversible upon cooling. FIG. 8 A-B provides the thermal transitions seen by DSC for the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) proteins. DSC experiments were recorded on a NANO DSC II Model 6100 (calorimetry Sciences Corp). Each sample was dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0). Sample solutions were loaded at 0° C. into the cell and heated at a rate of 1° C./min. The enthalpy was calculated from the first scan because the scans were not reversible upon cooling. DSC for the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) proteins at 37.5-37.9° C. are very similar to those seen by CD spectroscopy. DSC showed very similar thermal transition values for monomer, with and without globular domain. The scan of V_(Sp)CL_(Sp) showed single transition at 37.9° C. with a calorimetric enthalpy of ΔH_(cal)=2727 kJ/mol. The T_(m) of DSC is almost 1° C. higher than the 36.8° C. of the CD, due to the faster heating rate under non-equilibrium conditions. The CL_(Sp) showed single transition at 37.0° C. with a calorimetric enthalpy of ΔH_(cal)=2820 kJ/mol. The transition value is also higher than the 35.2° C. of the CD. The CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) peak shows a small shoulder that is likely due to some heterogeneity in the digestion products. The high calorimetric enthalpy values support an extensive hydration network for the bacterial collagen products, similar to that seen for animal collagens and model peptides.

All samples were dialyzed against phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0) and then centrifuged and filtered through 0.1 μm Whatman Anotop filters before measurements. To obtain the hydrodynamic radius (R_(h)), the intensity autocorrelation functions were analyzed by Dynamic software (Wyatt Technologh Corp).

Example 10 Characterization of Solubility/Precipitation of Expressed Proteins and the Example 6 Higher Order Structures Formed by them (Fibers)

A. Solubility Study

The purified V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) preparations, and bovine skin collagen were dialyzed at 4° C. for 24 h against four different buffers: 0.1M acetic acid (pH 2.9) at 4° C.; 50 mM sodium acetate buffer (pH 5.0), phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.0) and 50 mM glycine buffer (pH 8.6). These samples were also dialyzed at 24° C. against all buffers except for acetic acid, where the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp) proteins were shown to denature at this temperature. The CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) protein was dialyzed against PBS at 4° C., 24° C., and 30° C. for 24 h, and also against 0.1M acetic acid at 4° C. After dialysis, each sample was centrifuged at 14000 rpm for 10 min to remove insoluble materials. Solubility was determined by measuring the concentration in the supernatant, using the Tyr extinction coefficient of ε275=9635 M-1 cm-1 for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and using the CD spectrum for CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and bovine skin collagen assuming a mean residue ellipticity of MRE 220=6000 deg cm2 dmol-1. Lyophilyzed pepsin-treated bovine skin collagen was dissolved in 0.1 M acetic acid and stirred for 12 h at 4° C. After spinning down at 14,000 rpm for 10 min to remove the cross-linked collagen, the sample was used for solubility studies.

TABLE 5 Solubility of bovine skin collagen and bacterial collagen (1 mg/ml) in different buffers and pH 0.1M acetic acid 50 mM sodium acetate PBS 50 mM glycine NaOH pH 2.9 pH 5.0 pH 7.0 pH 8.6 4° C. 24° C. 4° C. 24° C. 4° C. 24° C. 30° C. 4° C. 24° C. Protein % % % % Bovine skin 100 NDa) 65.9 67.5 98.1 93.7 54.0 0 0 collagen V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) 98.1 NDa) 76.5 70.6 66.0 69.6 ND 100 100 CLv 100 NDa) 83.6 84.9 100 80.0 ND 100 87.5 V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)- 100 NDa) 79.4 84.4 80.0 92.7 ND 75.0 82.3 CL_(Sp) CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) 100 NDa) ND ND 100 63.6 65.6 ND ND At high enough concentrations (>2 mg/ml) bacterial collagen products showed some precipitates in PBS at 4° C. which were examined by transmission electron microscopy. FIG. 9 provides electronic microscopy of the precipitates in PBS (a-d) negative staining for V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp) domain, V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) domains at 4° C. positive staining for CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) domains at 25° C. Precipitates of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) were analyzed under an electron microscope after negative staining. V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) precipitates appeared as poorly ordered clusters with some indication of underlying fibrous nature, while the CL_(Sp) precipitate showed fibrillar structures with a diameter of 9.0 nm±6.3 nm. The precipitates of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) appear to have a fibrous nature, with branching and irregularities, while the precipitates of CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) form more regular and longer fibrils with a diameter of 21.0 nm±6.7 nm. Some of the CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) fibrous structures show some suggestion of periodic nodes at about 100 nm intervals.

B. Segment Long Spacing Crystallites

To form SLS aggregates, 0.2 mg/mL of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) and 0.1 mg/mL of CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), and CL_(Sp) were dialyzed at 4° C. first against 0.5 M acetic acid and then against 0.2% ATP in 0.01 M acetic acid for two days. Samples were taken on carbon-coated grids, positively stained with 0.4% phosphotungstic acid, and examined with JEOL 1200EX electron microscope (Broek, Daniel L. and Brodsky, B., JBC 1985).

FIG. 10 provides the electron micrographs of samples prepared to form Segment Long Spacing (SLS) crystallites of collagen (dialysis against ATP, pH 3), with FIG. 10a providing Bovine skin collagen type I, FIG. 10b providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), FIG. 10c providing CL_(Sp) domain and FIG. 10d providing V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp). Samples were taken on carbon-coated grids, positively stained with 0.4% phosphotungstic acid, and examined with a Philips CM12 electron microscope. In contrast to the 300 nm length crystallites with clear banding seen for bovine collagen, the V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) protein forms small narrow fibrous aggregates with an average length of 132±27 nm. Since this length represents almost twice the length expected for the collagenous domain (67.8 nm), and the globular domain was previously shown to have a diameter of approximately 3.9 nm, it is possibly that the aggregates observed are formed by two antiparallel molecules combined through their globular domains lined up in parallel arrays. Dialysis of the isolated collagen domain CL_(Sp) against ATP formed a network like structure with little indication of SLS-like parallel packing or banding. The SLS crystallite preparations of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) show discrete aggregates with 6-7 bands along their length. The length of the crystallites clusters around two sizes 182±5 and 363±11 nm. Given the expected dimensions of the CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) domain as 140 nm and the V domain as 3.9 nm, it is possible that the 180 nm crystallites are formed by an array of parallel single molecules of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) while the 360 nm crystallites are formed by two antiparallel molecules of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) joined at their globular domains, which may represent the central dark band in the larger crystallites.

C. Analysis by Microscopy

The precipitates of V_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), CL_(Sp), V_(Sp)CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp), and CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) were analyzed by negative staining and electron microscopy. (FIG. 10a-b ) The precipitates were obtained after dialyzing against PBS and centrifuged at 14,000 rpm for 10 minutes. After diluting the precipitates with the buffer, the 5 μl samples were adsorbed onto carbon-coated grids for 30 seconds and stained for 5 seconds on 1 drop of 0.5% uranyl acetate for analyzing electron microscopy. The grids were dried at room temperature. Specimens were observed in JEOL 1200EX electron microscope. Images were recorded with Philips CM12.

Segment long spacing crystallites arise by lateral aggregation of collagen molecules in register, and the staining of charged residues produces a positive banding pattern visible in the electron microscope. (FIG. 10a-c ) The SLS crystallites obtained with of the bovine skin collagen gave the typical appearance, with is approximately 300 nm. The appearance of the bacterial is very different. The SLS aggregates from the V_(Sp)CL_(Sp) have approximately 150 nm with the quite different banding pattern from the bovine skin collagen (FIG. 10a ). The measured length of 150 nm showed almost twice of 71.7 nm, which is calculated value of the collagenous domain (67.8 nm) and globular domain (3.9 nm) (Yi Xu et al. JBC 2002). The width of dark band is much wider than that of the bovine and the total length and width (around 10 nm) is greater than the bovine. According to the length, it is possible that the V_(Sp)CL_(Sp)-CL_(Sp) crystallites were formed by the dimer that combines with each globular domain. The SLS crystallites from CL_(Sp) did not show the banding pattern.

Example 11 Incorporation of Matrix Metalloproteinase Cleavage Site

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent endopeptidases and they are capable of degrading all kinds of extracellular matrix proteins. MMPs are thought to play a major role on cell behaviors such as cell proliferation, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis and host defense. In the vertebrate MMP family, there are four collagenases, namely MMP-1, MMP-8, MMP-13 and MMP-18. These collagenases cleave type I, II and III collagens at a site one-fourth from C-terminus. And there are also two gelatinases, namely MMP-2 and MMP-9. They cleave the denatured collagens. And MMP-2 also cleaves type I, II and III collagens. The most frequent sequence of cleavage site is G-P-Q(L)-G-I(L)-A(L) (SEQ ID NOS: 19-26). The MMP cleaves after the Glycine underlined. The definition of the residue positions is as follows.

-G-P-Q(L)-G-I(L)-A(L)-(SEQ ID NOS: 19-26)

A MMP cleavage model (Fields, 1991)

a) high imino acid (>33%)-containing region that is tightly triple-helical, consisting of four G-X-Y triplets preceding the cleavage site, but in subsite P₂ there cannot be an imino acid

b) low imino acid (<17%)-containing, loosely triple-helical region consisting of four G-X-Y triplets following the cleavage site

c) a maximum of one charged residue for the entire 25 residue cleavage site region, which is always an Arg in subsites P_(5′) or P_(8′)

d) a low side-chain molar volume

e) at least 12 residues from subsites P₄-P_(8′)]

V-CL Protein from Streptococcus pyogenes as a Background

Sequence of V-CL

V domain:

(SEQ ID NO: 66) MNHKVHMHHHHHHDEQEEKAKVRTELIQELAQGLGGIEKKNFPTLGDED LDHTYMTKLLTYLQEREQAENSWRKRLLKGIQDHALDLVPR CL domain:

(SEQ ID NO: 7) GSPGLPGPRGEQGPTGPTGPAGPRGLQGLQGLQGERGEQGPTGPAGPRGL QGERGEQGPTGLAGKAGEAGAKGETGPAGPQGPRGEQGPQGLPGKDGEAG AQGPAGPMGPAGERGEKGEPGTQGAKGDRGETGPVGPRGERGEAGPAGKD GERGPVGPAGKDGQNGQDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGLPGKDGKDGQNGKDGL PGKDGKDGQDGKDGLPGKDGKDGLPGKDGKDGQPGKPGKY

There are four potential collagenase cleavage sites in this sequence as underlined. But none of them is strictly identical to the MMP cleavage site in types I, II, and III collagens, that is, G-P-Q(L)-G-I(L)-A(L) (SEQ ID NOS: 19-26). And the second and the third cleavage sites are too close to each other to serve as good sites for analysis.

Treatments with MMP1, MMP2 and MMP13 were carried out at 25° C. The results show that none of these MMPs cleaved V-CL protein efficiently at 25° C. But after denaturation, MMP2 and MMP13 cleaved V-CL protein efficiently. This observation is consistent with the fact that human fibroblast collagenase cleaves types I, II, and III denatured collagens (gelatins) at G-L(I)-Y-G (SEQ ID NO.: 91-92) loci. (Several loci which are sensitive to collagenases in denatured collagens are protected in the native triple-helical collagen.)

This means that under native condition, V-CL protein can serve as a good background for MMP specificity study.

b) Analysis of V-CL sequence in terms of Field's model

CL domain:

(SEQ ID NO: 7)

All the triplets containing an imino acid (high imino acid-containing region) are shaded. The only region with four consecutive triplets shaded is from G13 to R24, preceding a potential cleavage site G-L-Q. There are also three regions with three consecutive triplets shaded. One region is from G1 to R9, which is at the very beginning of the protein and not a good site for analysis. One region is from G40 to R48, preceding a potential cleavage site G-L-Q. And the last region is from G76 to R84, followed by GEQGPQGLP (SEQ ID NO.: 68). GEQ here may be mutagenized to GPQ, forming a region of five consecutive triplets containing high imino acid and preceding a potential cleavage site G-L-P.

The sequence unshaded is the region of low imino acid. Following the four potential cleavage site, the regions are all low imino acid (<17%)-containing.

V-CL sequence is highly charged with residues R, K, D and E. This is a characteristic of bacterial collagen but may affect MMP behaviors. For the first potential cleavage site, there are two charged residue in the entire 25 residue cleavage site region from G12 to G37. Similarly, there are five charged residues in the second cleavage site, seven in the third site, and five in the fourth site.

A. Design of Mutagenesis and Insertion:

a) Mutagenesis

All the four potential cleavage sites can be mutagenized to a more favorable site in type II collagen: GPQGLA (SEQ ID NO.: 21). But as stated above, the first potential cleavage site is the best one. In order to change GPRGLQ (SEQ ID NO.: 27) to GPQGLA (SEQ ID NO.: 21), 24R to Q and 27Q to A can simply be mutagenized. Previous study on sequence specificity also showed that for some substrates, at least 12 residues from subsites P₄-P_(8′) are necessary for cleavage. So a 12-residue sequence from type II collagen GPQGLAGQRGIV (SEQ ID NO: 69) can be introduced into V-CL sequence, either by mutagenesis or by construction (mutagenesis may be a simpler method). If needed, the sequence to either the C-terminus or the N-terminus or both can be extended until it reaches 25 residues, which is considered to be enough for MMP recognition and cleavage. Similar design is also applied for the other three potential cleavage sites. And similar design is also applied for introducing type III collagen cleavage site.

b) Insertion

MMP cleavage site on type II and type III collagen is inserted into V-CL sequence. For each cleavage site, both a short (“a” sequence below, 12 residues) stretch and a long (“b” sequence below, 24 residues) stretch are inserted. MMP cleavage sites are underlined.

(1) MMP Cleavage Site and Flanking Sequence on Type III Collagen:

(SEQ ID NO: 70) -GAQGPPGAPGPLGIAGITGARGLAGPPGMPGPRGS-

Possible insertion sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 71) a. -GPLGIAGITGAR- 4 triplets (SEQ ID NO: 72) b. -GAQGPPGAPGPLGIAGITGARGLA- 8 triplets

(2) MMP Cleavage Site and Flanking Sequence on Type II Collagen:

(SEQ ID NO: 73) -GPSGAEGPPGPQGLAGQRGIVGLPGQRGERGFP-

Possible insertion sequence:

(SEQ ID NO: 74) a. -GPQGLAGQRGIV- 4 triplets (SEQ ID NO: 75) b. -GPSGAEGPPGPQGLAGQRGIVGLP- 8 triplets

At nucleotide level, it's much easier to insert the sequences between two bacterial collagen-like domains. So the insertion will be flanked by

-GKDGKDGQPGKP (SEQ ID NO.: 76)-Insert-GPRGEQGPTGPT- (SEQ ID NO: 77).

The complete constructs will be V domain-CL domain-Insert-CL domain.

Mutagenesis in the Insertion Sequence

The sequence of V domain-CL domain-Insert-CL domain itself can serve as a positive control. Different mutations can be introduced into the insertion sequence to obtain single or multiple mutations.

Example 12 Refolding of the Triple Helical Domain In Vitro and In Vivo

A. In Vitro Refolding of the S. pyogenes Scl2 Protein.

The recombinant collagenous domain of the Scl1 protein was previously shown to fold into a stable triple-helix when expressed in E. coli without its N-terminal globular domain. Similar correct triple-helix folding is also observed for the recombinant (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)79 CL_(sp) domain from the Scl2 protein expressed as His-tagged CL_(sp) in E. coli (FIG. 13A, top construct). The recombinant CL_(sp) domain shows a characteristic collagen CD spectrum and a thermal stability of 36° C. (FIG. 13B, right arrow). The stability of this recombinant triple-helix domain is the same as seen for the triple-helix domain obtained after trypsin digestion of V_(sp)-CL_(sp). But after heat denaturation, the collagenous domain of the Scl2 protein shows no ability to refold in vitro on this time scale (FIG. 13B, left arrow), consistent with results reported previously for the Scl1 triple-helix domain.

To investigate whether the position of V_(sp) domain with respect to the triple-helix domain is important for folding in E. coli or refolding in vitro, a construct was designed to make His-tagged CL_(sp)-V_(sp) protein, where the globular domain is now C-terminal to the triple-helix (FIG. 13A, bottom construct). Recombinant CL_(sp)-V_(sp) forms a soluble triple-helix containing molecule with a CD spectrum (MRE220 ˜1470 deg cm2 dmol-1) very similar to that of the original V_(sp)-CL_(sp) construct. The thermal denaturation of CL_(sp)-V_(sp) protein purified from E. coli is similar to that seen for the V_(sp)-CL_(sp) protein and the CL_(sp) domain alone (FIGS. 13B and C, right arrow). However, there is some indication of a second transition for CL_(sp)-V_(sp), where the CD signal at 220 nm starts to increase after the temperature reaches 40° C., which could reflect independent denaturation of the Vsp domain.

In vitro refolding experiments were carried out after heat denaturation on CL_(sp), V_(sp)-CL_(sp) and CL_(sp)-V_(sp) proteins. No indication of refolding is seen for His-CL_(sp) (FIG. 13B, left arrow), while V_(sp)-CL_(sp) protein successfully achieves a substantial amount of refolding (FIG. 13C, left arrow) as reported previously. The inability of V_(sp)-CL_(sp) protein to fully refold could be related to aggregation, which removes some of the protein from solution, or to the conditions of refolding. Experiments with other conditions have resulted in much higher percentages of refolding. In contrast to V_(sp)-CL_(sp), CL_(sp)-V_(sp) does not appear to be capable of significant in vitro refolding (FIG. 13D, left arrow). As the temperature drops below 45° C., the CD signal starts to decrease, suggesting the formation of triple helix and refolding of the V_(sp) domain. When the temperature falls below 25° C., there is a small increase in MRE 220 nm but it never reaches a value expected for formation of a significant amount of triple-helix.

To investigate the relationship between refolding of these proteins and trimerization, cross-link experiments were carried out to determine whether the CL_(sp), V_(sp)-CL_(sp) and CL_(sp)-V_(sp) proteins reform trimers after cooling the denatured protein (FIG. 14A). The presence of cross-linked oligomeric species suggests that V_(sp)-CL_(sp) and CL_(sp)-V_(sp) proteins reform trimers while CL_(sp) does not. The drop in MRE 220 upon refolding and the presence of cross-linked oligomers suggest the V_(sp) domain of the CL_(sp)-V_(sp) construct can refold to form trimers but this is not followed by effective folding of the adjacent CL_(sp) domain. These experiments demonstrate that the V_(sp) domain can trimerize on its own, whether it is N-terminal or C-terminal to the triple-helix but it can only promote efficient in vitro refolding when on the N-terminal side of the CL_(sp) domain.

B. V_(sp) Domain Facilitates the Folding and Refolding of a Heterologous Collagen-Like Protein.

The ability of V_(sp) to promote folding of a heterologous triple-helix, which cannot fold on its own, was examined. The bacterium Clostridium perfringens was found to contain a gene encoding a collagen-like protein, composed of a 53 residue N-terminal non-collagenous domain (N_(cp)), a collagen-like domain (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)63 (denoted as CL_(cp)) and a 161 residue C-terminal non-collagenous domain (C_(cp)) (FIG. 15A). Four constructs N_(cp)-CL_(cp)-C_(cp), N_(cp)—CL_(cp), CL_(cp)-C_(cp) and CL_(cp) (FIG. 15A) were previously expressed in E. coli using the cold shock vector system described above and all were found in inclusion bodies, suggesting an inability to correctly fold to form stable triple-helices. In an attempt to promote proper folding, the V_(sp) domain from S. pyogenes was fused N-terminal to the CL_(cp) domain, creating the chimeric protein V_(sp)-CL_(cp) (FIG. 5A). The V_(sp)-CL_(cp) protein was fully soluble (FIG. 15B), suggesting that the V_(sp) domain facilitates the correct folding of this heterologous collagen-like domain as expressed in E. coli.

To further determine whether V_(sp)-CL_(cp) forms a proper triple helix, the physicochemical properties of V_(sp)-CL_(cp) and the CL_(cp) domain, obtained by trypsin treatment of V_(sp)-CL_(cp), were determined. The CD spectra of both V_(sp)-CL_(cp) and the CL_(cp) domain show characteristic features of the collagen triple-helix (data not shown). The magnitude of the CD peak at 220 nm is lower for V_(sp)-CL_(cp) than for the CL_(cp) domain, as expected when the V_(sp) domain contributes a negative triple helical peak around 222 nm that partly cancels out the positive 220 nm peak of the collagen triple-helix signal. The thermal transitions of both V_(sp)-CL_(cp) and CL_(cp) domains are not as sharp as seen for V_(sp)-CL_(sp) and CL_(sp) domains, and showed some sign of multiple transitions (FIGS. 15C and D, right arrow). The melting temperatures were T_(m)=40.6° C. for V_(sp)-CL_(cp) and T_(m)=38.8° C. for CL_(cp), suggesting that the presence of the V_(sp) domain provides a small degree of stabilization. The in vitro refolding of both proteins was also studied (FIGS. 15C and D, left arrow). For V_(sp)-CL_(cp), cooling results in an initial drop in the MRE 220 nm CD signal, consistent with the formation of triple helical structure, followed by an increase in MRE 220 nm and the recovery of about 80% of the initial CD signal. This suggests refolding of the N-terminal V_(sp) domain must occur before refolding of the triple-helix structure takes place. Cross-link experimental evidence indicates that V_(sp)-CL_(cp) trimers are reformed (FIG. 14B). In contrast, after the isolated CL_(cp) domain alone is heat denatured and then cooled down, no CD signal is recovered and no cross-linked trimers are formed (FIG. 14B and FIG. 15C), implying that V_(sp) domain is required for efficient and proper refolding of the heterologous collagen-like CL_(cp) domain.

Example 13 Cytotoxicity and Immungenocity

A. Preparation of Stabilized CL_(Sp) Protein Samples

For sponge preparation, purified CL protein was prepared in 20 mM acetic acid and freeze dried. Dry collagen was held at 20° C. over vapour from 20% w/v glutaraldehyde (GA) for 18 h in a closed vessel. Stabilised samples were then held covered in air and stored at room temperature until analysis. Prior to cell evaluations samples were washed with 3 changes of sterile PBS.

B. Thermal Stability of Stabilised CL_(Sp) Protein Samples

The thermal stability of the GA stabilised samples was examined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) on a Mettler Toledo DSC 821e instrument using samples in PBS.

C. Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Soluble CL Protein

Cytotoxicity was assessed using human lung fibroblast WI-38 and human fibrosarcoma HT1080 cells in a Neutral Red assay. Bovine skin collagen (BSC), prepared by differential salt precipitation of a pepsin extract was used as a control. Samples containing CL protein or BSC (1, 10 and 50 mg/ml) were prepared using serum-free DMEM (for WI-38) or MEM (for HT1080) and sterilised using a 0.2 mm filter. WI-38 cells and HT1080 cells were seeded onto a 96-well plate at 1.5×10⁴ cells/well in MEM or DMEM, respectively, with 10% foetal calf serum (FCS) and 1% penicillin/streptomycin. After 24 h, medium was replaced with 150 ml of the sample or medium control and incubated for an additional 24 h. Viability of the cells was then determined using a Neutral red assay at 37° C. in PBS.

No significant changes were observed in the cell viability nor cell morphology after 24 h for WI-38 cells and HT1080 cells when compared to cells incubated in serum-free DMEM and MEM, which were taken as the 100% reference level (FIG. 16). The bovine skin collagen (BSC) controls showed 20-30% enhanced viability at 24 h compared to the medium only controls which is probably due to the better cell attachment by BSC in the serum free media. Thus, these results indicate that the collagen like CL domain is not cytotoxic when assessed using HT1080, WI-38 or L929 cells. 

We claim:
 1. A recombinant bacterial collagen-like protein structure which is stable at temperatures between 35° C. and 40° C. in either its native form or after chemical crosslinking, comprising a formula: [(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p) where m is between about 1 to 200 and (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents a triple helical domain with Xaa and Yaa being independently any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit, wherein the insert is comprised of about 1 to 50 of any imino or amino acids, with n being 0 or 1, and p being any number from about 2 to about 10 wherein the value of n is unique for each repeat and at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein.
 2. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a proline content of greater than 19%.
 3. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 2, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a proline content of between 19% and 40%.
 4. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a concentration of charged amino acids of greater than 14%.
 5. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 4, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a concentration of charged amino acids of between 14-35%.
 6. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein the triple helical domain(s) are independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 7-11 and combinations thereof.
 7. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, further comprising a non-collagenous domain bound at either an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end of the collagen-like protein, which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domains.
 8. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 7, wherein the non-collagenous domain is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NO.: 47, SEQ ID NO.: 48, SEQ ID NO.: 49 and SEQ ID NO.: 51 and combinations thereof.
 9. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 7, wherein the non-collagenous domain is SEQ ID NO.: 47 and is bound to the protein at the amino terminus end of the triple helical domain.
 10. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 7, wherein the non-collagenous domain is SEQ ID NO.: 51 and is bound to the protein at the carboxy terminus end of the triple helical domain.
 11. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 7, wherein the non-collagenous domain is selected from the group consisting of a foldon, a coiled coil sequence, and a C-propeptide.
 12. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein an insert sequence includes at least one integrin binding site.
 13. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 12, wherein the integrin binding site is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 15, SEQ ID NO.: 18 and combinations thereof.
 14. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein an insert sequence includes at least one DDR2 domain.
 15. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 14, wherein the DDR2 domain is SEQ ID NO.:
 78. 16. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one integrin binding site and at least one DDR2 domain.
 17. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site.
 18. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 17, wherein the matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 19-28, SEQ ID NO.: 62, SEQ ID NOS.: 67-75, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof.
 19. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one non-collagen natural break having a peptide sequence spaced between two glycine residues.
 20. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 19, wherein the non-collagen natural break is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS.: 12-14, SEQ ID NO.: 16, SEQ ID NO.: 17, SEQ ID NO.: 50, SEQ ID NO.: 65, and combinations thereof.
 21. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 1, wherein the triple-helical domain aggregates at neutral pH.
 22. A recombinant bacterial collagen-like protein structure which is stable at mammalian bodily temperatures comprising a formula: [(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p) where m is between about 1 to 200 and (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents a triple helical domain with Xaa and Yaa being independently any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit, wherein the insert is comprised of about 1 to 50 of any imino or amino acids, with n being 0 or 1, and p being any number from about 2 to about 10 wherein the value of n is unique for each repeat and at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein; and a non-collagenous domain bound to the protein at either or both an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end, which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domain.
 23. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a Proline content of greater than 19%.
 24. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 23, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a Proline content of between 19% and 40%.
 25. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a concentration of charged amino acids of greater than 14%.
 26. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein at least one triple helical domain has a concentration of charged amino acids of between 14-35%.
 27. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 26, wherein the triple helical domain(s) are stable at temperatures between 35° C. and 40° C. either in its native form or after chemical crossing linking.
 28. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the triple helical domain(s) are independently selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 7-11 and combinations thereof.
 29. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the non-collagenous domain is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS 47, SEQ ID NO.: 48, SEQ ID NO.: 49, SEQ ID NO.: 51 and combinations thereof.
 30. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the non-collagenous domain is SEQ ID NO.: 47 and is bound to the protein at the amino terminus end of the triple helical domain.
 31. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the non-collagenous domain is SEQ ID NO.: 51 and is bound to the protein at the carboxy terminus end of the triple helical domain.
 32. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the non-collagenous domain is selected from the group consisting of a foldon, a coiled coil sequence, and a C-propeptide.
 33. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein an insert sequence includes at least one integrin binding site.
 34. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 33, wherein the integrin binding site is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 15, SEQ ID NO.: 18 and combinations thereof.
 35. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein an insert sequence includes at least one DDR2 domain.
 36. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 35, wherein the DDR2 domain is SEQ ID NO.:
 78. 37. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one integrin binding site and at least one DDR2 domain.
 38. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site.
 39. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 38, wherein the matrix metalloproteinase cleavage site is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS: 19-28, SEQ ID NO.: 62, SEQ ID NOS.: 67-75, fragments thereof, and combinations thereof.
 40. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the insert sequence includes at least one non-collagen natural break having a peptide sequence spaced between two glycine residues.
 41. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 40, wherein the non-collagen natural break is selected from the group consisting of SEQ ID NOS.: 12-14, SEQ ID NO.: 16, SEQ ID NO.: 17, SEQ ID NO.: 50, SEQ ID NO.: 65, and combinations thereof.
 42. The recombinantly expressed protein of claim 22, wherein the triple-helical domain aggregates at neutral pH.
 43. A biological aggregate for use in a biomedical product comprising: a recombinant bacterial collagen-like protein structure which is stable at mammalian bodily temperatures comprising a formula [(Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m)-(insert)_(n)]_(p) where m is between about 1 to 200 and (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) represents a triple helical domain with Xaa and Yaa being independently any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit, wherein the insert is comprised of about 1 to 50 of any imino or amino acids, with n being 0 or 1, and p being any number from about 2 to about 10 wherein the value of n is unique for each repeat and at least one insert is provided in the collagen-like protein; and optionally a non-collagenous domain bound to the protein at either or both an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end, which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domain.
 44. A method of producing a recombinant collagen-like protein comprising (a) isolating 2 or more nucleic acid sequences each encoding separate triple helical domains formed from repeat sub-units of the formula: (Gly-Xaa-Yaa)_(m) where m is between about 1 to 200 and Xaa and Yaa are independently for each repeat unit any natural or unnatural imino or amino acid for each repeat unit, with the proviso that neither Xaa nor Yaa is a hydroxyproline, (b) inserting the two or more nucleic acid sequences encoding helical domains into a single nucleic acid vector; (c) optionally inserting a non-collagen sequence encoding 1 to about 50 amino acids between each nucleic acid sequence encoding the helicial domains; (d) optionally inserting a non-collagenous domain nucleic acid sequence at either or both an amino terminus end or a carboxy terminus end of the triple helical domain, which facilitates protein folding of the triple helical domain upon expression; (e) optionally inserting a sequence tag; (f) expressing the nucleic acid sequence within a micro-organism; and (g) isolating the expressed nucleic acid sequence.
 45. The method of claim 44 wherein the nucleic acid vector is a cold-shock vector.
 46. The method of claim 44 wherein the nucleic acid sequence is expressed within the micro-organism at temperatures below 37° C.
 47. The method of claim 44 wherein the nucleic acid sequence is expressed within the micro-organism at a temperature of about 15° C. 